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POEMS AND SONGS 



BY ROBERT BURNS 



ILLUSTRATED WITH NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS 




LONDON: 
BELL AND DALDY, 186, FLEET STREET, 

EDINBURGH : J. MENZIES. 



21110 




11NTED BY HTCHABI) CLAY, B11EA.D STREET HII.L, 
LONDON. 




This selection from the Poetical Works of Robert 
Burns includes such of his popular Poems as may 
with propriety be given in a volume intended for the 
Drawing-room ; and nearly all the Songs which are 
usually published. 




CONTENTS 



PAGE 

THE COTTER'S SATURDAY NIGHT I 

VERSES LEFT AT A REVEREND FRIEND'S HOUSE, IN THE ROOM 

WHERE THE AUTHOR SLEPT. IO 

THE DEATH AND DYING WORDS OF POOR MAILIE TI 

THE AULD FARMER'S NEW-YEAR MORNING SALUTATION TO HIS 

AULD MlRE MAGGIE 13 

STANZAS IN THE PROSPECT OF DEATH 1 8 

A WINTER NIGHT 19 

TO A MOUSE 23 

LAMENT OF MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS 25 

ON THE BIRTH OF A POSTHUMOUS CHILD 28 

TO MISS CRUICKSHANKS . 29 

WINTER 30 

the twa dogs 32 

the humble petition of bruar water 40 

address to edinburgh 44 

on the late captain grose's peregrinations through 

scotland 46 

written with a pencil 49 

written in friars-carse hermitage 50 

on seeing a wounded hare limp by me 52 

on scaring some water- fowl 53 

to miss logan 55 

Hallowe'en 56 

a vision 66 

sonnet on the death of robert riddel, esq 67 

sonnet on hearing a thrush sing in a morning walk . 68 

to a mountain daisy 69 

tam o' shanter 72 

answer to a mandate 82 

man was made to mourn 84 

DELIA . . . . 88 



yiii CONTENTS. 

!>AGE 

LINES ADDRESSED TO MR. MITCHELL, COLLECTOR OF EXCISE . 89 

a mother's lament for the death of her son .... 90 

death and dr. hornbook 9 1 

verses to a young lady 97 

to a young lady 9 8 



SONGS AND BALLADS. 



song I0 ° 

HANDSOME NELL io2 



BONNIE LESLEY I0 3 

TO MARY IN HEAVEN io 4 

I DREAM'D I LAY WHERE FLOWERS WERE SPRINGING . . . 106 

THE HIGHLAND LASSIE io 7 

NANNIE IO ° 

FORLORN, MY LOVE, NO COMFORT NEAR 109 

HER FLOWING LOCKS ll ° 

the rigs o' barley iti 

there's nought but care . . . ^. . . 113 

montgomery's peggy ix 4 

MY JEAN lh - 

BLITHE WAS SHE. IJ 5 

WHEN WILD WAR'S DEADLY BLAST WAS BLAWN Il6 

ROBIN IJ 9 

BONNY PEGGY ALISON I2 ° 

O LEAVE NOVELS l °' 



YOUNG PEGGY I21 

TIBBIE DUNBAR I22 



THE BANKS OF THE DEVON • • • I2 3 

MENIE ■ I2 4 

ON CESSNOCK BANKS I2 ° 

A ROSE-BUD BY MY EARLY WALK "8 

DUNCAN GRAY I2 9 

STREAMS THAT GLIDE • '3 1 

MARY X 3 2 

ELIZA l °' 

RAVING WINDS AROUND HER BLOWING . . 133 

ca' the yowes x 34 

THE AUTHOR'S FAREWELL TO HIS NATIVE COUNTRY . . . . 1 36 

WHERE, BRAVING ANGRY WINTER'S STORMS 137 

BONNIE LASSIE, WILL YE GO I3 8 

TIBBIE, I HA'E SEEN THE DAY 139 

HOW LONG AND DREARY IS THE NIGHT I4I 

THICKEST NIGHT, O'ERHANG MY DWELLING lb. 

UP IN THE MORNING EARLY H 2 

THE YOUNG HIGHLAND ROVER H3 



CONTENTS. 



MUSING ON THE ROARING OCEAN 143 

STAY, MY CHARMER 144 

THE LASS O' BALLOCHMYLE I45 

I GAED A WAEFU' GATE, YESTREEN I47 

YOUNG JOCKEY ib. 

MY BONNIE MARY I48 

WILLIE BREW'D A PECK O' MAUT .... 149 

CASSILLIS' BANKS 150 

WAE IS MY HEART 151 

BONNIE ANN 152 

MY HARRY ib. 

the lazy mist 153 

there's a youth in this city . . 154 

my heart is a-breaking, dear tittie 155 

of a' the airts the wind can blaw . 157 

the day returns, my bosom burns ...._.... ib. 

gloomy december 158 

mary morison 159 

bonnie jean '. . 160 

whistle owre the lave o't 1 62 

john anderson my jo 163 

O, WERE I ON PARNASSUS' HILL ! . ib. 

HAD I A CAVE 164 

WHISTLE, AND I'LL COME TO YOU, MY LAD 165 

MEIKLE THINKS MY LUVE 1 66 

YON WILD MOSSY MOUNTAINS 1 67 

GANE IS THE DAY 168 

THERE 'LL NEVER BE PEACE 169 

I DO CONFESS THOU ART SAE FAIR ib. 

THE BONNIE WEE THING 170 

THE BRAES O' BALLOCHMYLE 171 

BESSY AND HER SPINNING-WHEEL 1 72 

AE FOND KISS 173 

O LUVE WILL VENTURE IN . 1 74 

WHAT CAN A YOUNG LASSIE 1 76 

NAEBODY 177 

SONG OF DEATH I7 8 

AS I WAS A-WANDERING ib. 

COUNTRY LASSIE 179 

THE BANKS O' DOON. — FIRST VERSION l8l 

THE BANKS O' DOON. — SECOND VERSION 1 82 

FAIR ELIZA 183 

JOCKEY'S TA'EN THE PARTING KTSS 1 84 

CHLORIS 185 

HIGHLAND MARY *86 

O FOR ANE-AND-TWENTY, TAM t88 

HOW CAN T BE BLTTHE AND GLAD ib. 

h 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

AULD ROB MORRIS l8 9 

MY HEART'S IN THE HIGHLANDS l 9° 

O POORTITH CAULD I 9 I 

BONNIE BELL • ' *9 2 

THE GALLANT WEAVER *93 

SHE'S FAIR AND FAUSE. *94 

THE EXCISEMAN .... 

THE CHEVALIER'S 

THE BANKS OF NITH r 9 6 



LAMENT x 95 



A RED, RED ROSE J 97 

THE BATTLE OF CULLODEN x 9 8 

FOR THE SAKE OF SOMEBODY tb - 

POLLY STEWART 

TO THEE, LOVED NITH 

O MAY, THY MORN 

PHILLIS THE FAIR 



200 

ib. 

20I 



O, WAT YE WHA'S IN YON TOWN 2 ° 2 

MY PEGGY'S FACE . 204 

THE WINSOME WEE THING '*■ 

LASSIE Wl' THE LINT-WHITE LOCKS • • • • 20 5 

MARY CAMPBELL 2 ° 6 

BANNOCKBURN 2 °? 

SHE SAYS SHE LO'ES ME BEST OF A' . . 2 °9 

GALLA- WATER 2I ° 

LOGAN BRAES 

SWEET CLOSES THE EVENING 2I2 

OH ! OPEN THE DOOR TO ME 2 *4 

WANDERING WILLIE l ' 

FRAGMENT 2I ^ 

ADOWN WINDING NITH 2I 

LORD GREGORY 2 ^ 

... 2l8 

JESSIE . . 

MEG O' THE MILL . 2I 9 

BY ALLAN STREAM 22 ° 

AULD LANG SYNE 221 

HUSBAND, HUSBAND, CEASE YOUR STRIFE 222 

FLOW GENTLY, SWEET AFTON 22 3 

BEHOLD THE HOUR " 224 

THOU HAST LEFT ME EVER 22 $ 

116 
FAIR JENNY 



DELUDED SWAIN, THE PLEASURE lb - 

111 
NANCY ' 

COME, LET ME TAKE THEE 22% 

•22Q 
CHLOE 

ON THE SEAS AND FAR AWAY 2 3° 

WILT THOU BE MY DEARIE? 2 3 x 

THE AULD MAN 2 ^ 2 



CONTENTS. XI 



O AY MY WIFE SHE DANG ME 233 

TO MARY ib. 

HERE IS THE GLEN 234 

MY AIN KIND DEARIE, O 235 

OUT OVER THE FORTH 236 

IT IS NA, JEAN, THY BONNIE FACE 237 

LOVELY DAVIES ib. 

SAE FAR AWA' 238 

THE LOVER'S MORNING SALUTE TO HIS MISTRESS 239 

LET NOT WOMAN E'ER COMPLAIN 24O 

THE HIGHLAND WIDOW'S LAMENT 241 

CANST THOU LEAVE ME THUS ? 243 

O PHILLY, HAPPY BE THAT DAY ib. 

CA' THE EWES 245 

CONTENTED Wl' LITTLE 246 

SAW YE MY PHELY ? ib. 

O WHA IS SHE THAT LO'ES ME . . . . 247 

FAREWELL, THOU STREAM 248 

LAST MAY A BRAW WOOER 249 

MY NANNIE'S AWA' 25 1 

HERE 'S A HEALTH 252 

O LAY THY LOOF IN MINE, LASS .......... 253 

O LASSIE, ART THOU SLEEPING YET ? 254 

IS THERE, FOR HONEST POVERTY 255 

DAINTY DAVIE 257 

CALEDONIA 258 

ADDRESS TO THE WOODLARK 259 

'TWAS NA HER BONNIE BLUE EEN 260 

THIS IS NO MY AIN LASSIE ib. 

CHLORIS 261 

O BONNIE WAS YON ROSY BRIER 262 

COMING THROUGH THE RYE 263 

ALTHO' THOU MAUN NEVER BE MINE 264 

HEY FOR A LASS Wl' A TOCHER ib. 

THERE WAS A BONNIE LASS 265 

TO CHARLOTTE HAMILTON 266 



ILLUSTRATIONS 




THE COTTER'S SATURDAY NIGHT. E " MVEB/ 

Tli 1 expectant wee-things, toddlin\ stacker through 
To meet their Dad, wP flichterin noise and glee. 

C W. Cope, r.a. . £. Evans . 

The xoily mother sees the conscious flame 
Sparkle in Jenny's e'e, audflusk her cheek. 

C. W. Cope, -r.a. . E. Evans . 

The priest-like father reads the sacred page, 
TIozv Abram zvas the friend of God on high. 

C. W. Cope, r.a. . E. Evans . 

The parent pair their secret homage pay, 
And proffer up to Heav'n the warm request. 

C. W. Cope, r.a. . Hammond. 
THE AULD FARMER'S SALUTATION. 
A gttde New- Year I tvish thee, Maggie ! 
Hae, there's a ripp to thy auld baggie. Harrison Weir . J. Cooper 

A WINTER NIGHT. 

Blow, blow, ye tvinds, with heavier gust ! 

And freeze, thou bitter-biting frost. Birket Foster . E. Evans . 

LAMENT OF MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. 

But I, the Queen of «' Scotland, 

Maun lie in prison Strang. J. C. Horsley, a.r.a. T.Bolton . 

WINTER. 



15 



25 



While, tumbling brown, the bum comes down, 
And roars frae bank to brae. Birket Foster. . E.Evans . . . 30 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



ENGRAVER. r.41,1 



THE TWA DOGS. 



Twa dogs, that were na thrang at hame, 

Forgather 1 d ance upon a time. Harrison Weir . J. Greenaway . 35 

THE HUMBLE PETITION OF BRUAR WATER. 



Here, foaming down the shelvy rocks, 
In twisting strength I rin. 



Birket Foster . . E. Evans ... 41 



CAPTAIN GROSE'S PEREGRINATIONS. 

By some auld, howlet-hauntea biggin'', 

Or kirk deserted by its riggin\ J. Archer, r.s. a. 



E. Evans ... 46 



ON SCARING SOME WATER-FOWL. 

Why, ye tenants of the lake, 
For me your wafry haunt forsake 1 Harrison Weir . W. Wright . . 53 



HALLOWE'EN. 

To burn their nits, and pi? their stocks, 
And hand their Hallowe'en. 

He roar'd a horrid murder-shout — 
And wha was it but Grumphie. 

TO A MOUNTAIN DAISY. 

Wee, modest, crimson-tipped flow 'r, 

Thou 'j met me in an evil hour. 

TAM O' SHANTER. 



S. Edmonston . 



S. Edmonston 



E. Evans ... 58 
E. Evans ... 63 



Harrison Weir . J. Cooper ... 69 



The souter tauld his queerest stories ; 

The landlords laugh was ready chorus. George Thomas 

Kirk-Alloway was drawing nigh, 

Whare ghaists and hotvlets nightly cry. Birket Foster . 

The carline claught her by the rump, 

And left poor Maggie scarce a stump. GEORGE THOMAS 

MAN WAS MADE TO MOURN. 



Unmindful, though a xveeping wife, 
And helpless offspring, mourn. 



S. Edmonston 



DEATH AND DR. HORNBOOK. 

Come, gie's your hand, and say we' We gree' 't ; 

We 1 II case our shanks and tak 1 a scat. J. Archer, r.s. a. 



H. Harral . . 74 

W. Thomas . . -77 

H. Harral. . . o 

E. Evans ... 87 

E. Evans . , . 9.-; 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



NOW WESTLIN' WINDS. 

We'll gently walk, and sweetly talk, 

Till the silent moon shine clearly. Birket Foster 

TO MARY IN HEAVEN. 

Can I forget the hallow } d grove, 
Where by the winding Ayr we met ? 

THE RIGS O' BARLEY. 

My blessings on that happy place 

Amang the rigs d 1 barley. Birket Foster 



ENGRAVER. FAGE 



J. Cooper . . . ioo 



J.Archer, r.s.a. . E. Evans ... 105 



J. Cooper ... in 



WHEN WILD WAR'S DEADLY BLAST. 

Alex. Johnston . Hammond. . . 116 



She sank within my arms, and cried, 
Art thott, my ain dear Willie 1 



THE BANKS OF THE DEVON. 

Hozu pleasant the banks 

Of the clear-winding Devon. 

DUNCAN GRAY. 

She may gae to — France for me 
Ha, ha, the wooing 0' 7. 

CA' THE YOWES. 

We'll gae down by Clou-den side, 
Through the hazels spreading wide. 

TIBBIE, I HA'E SEEN THE DAY. 

Yestreen I met yoti on the moor, 
Ye spak 11a, but gaed by like stoure. 

THE LASS O' BALLOCHMYLE. 

When musing in a lonely glade, 
A maiden fair I chanced to spy. 

CASSILLIS' BANKS. 

Then let me range by Cassillis'' banks, 
Wi' her, the lassie dear to me. 



Birket Foster . . J. Cooper ... 123 



S. Edmonston . . E. Evans ... 129 



Birket Foster 



S. Edmonston 



E. Evans ... 134 



E. Evans ... 139 



J. C. Horsley, a.r.a. W. J. Linton . 145 



Birket Foster 



MY HEART IS A-BREAKING, DEAR TITTLE. 

Pll gPe you my bonnie black hen, 

Gif ye will advise me to marry. S. Edmonston 



E. Evans ... 150 



E. Evans . . . 155 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



XV 



BONNIE JEAN. 

As Robie tauld a tale d love, 
Ae Jeniri on the lily lea. 



Birket Foster 



WHISTLE, AND I'LL COME TO YOU, MY LAD. 

But steal vie a blink d your bonnie black e^e, 
Yet look as ye were na looking at vie. Alex. Johnston 

THE BRAES O' BALLOCHMYLE. 

And aye the wild-wood echoes rang, 

Fareweel the braes d BallocJimyle. Birket Foster . 

WHAT CAN A YOUNG LASSIE. 

/'// cross him, and rack hi/u, 
Until I Jieart-break him. 

THE BANKS OF DOON. 

Ye flowery banks d bonnie Doon, 
How can ye bhtme sae fair / 

HIGHLAND MARY. 

For there I took the last fareweel 
& my sweet Highland Mary. 

O POORTITH CAULD. 

How blest the Jiumble cotter 1 s fate / 

He woos his simple dearie. S. Edmonston 

THE BANKS OF NITH. 



ENGRAVER. PAGE 



J. Cooper . . . 1 60 



W.J. Linton . 165 



E. Evans . . . 171 



J.CHorsley, a.r.a. E. Evans ... 176 



Birket Foster . . E. Evans . . . 181 



J.Drummond, r.s.a. E. Evans ... 186 



But sweeter flozas the NitJi to me, 

WJiere Cuvi7?iins ance had high command. 

Birket Foster 



E. Evans ... 191 



J. Cooper ... 196 



PHILLIS THE FAIR. 

Down in a shady walk, 
Doves cooing were. 

BANNOCKBURN. 

Tyrants fall in every foe ! 
Liberty's in every blow / 



J.C. Horsley, a.r.a. W.J.Linton . iox 



J. Drummond, r.s.a. W. Thomas . . 207 



SWEET CLOSES THE EVENING. 

Sweet closes the evening on Craigie-bnm-wood, 

And blithely awakens the morrow. Birket Foster 



E. Evans . . . i\: 



XVI ILLUSTRATIONS. 



ENGRA.VER, 



LORD GREGORY. 

A xvaefi? wanderer seeks thy tow'r, 

Lord Gregory, ope thy door. J. Archer, r.s.a. . J. Cooper . . . 2r7 

FLOW GENTLY, SWEET AFTON. 

As gathering sweet flow 1 rets 

She stems thy char wave. Birket Foster . . E.Evans . . . 223 

CHLOE. 

Tripping der the pearly lawn, 

The youthful, charming Chloe. F. W. Topham. . . J. Cooper ... 229 

MY AIN KIND DEARIE, O. 

Down by the btiru, where scented birks 

W? dew are hanging clear, my jo. Birket Foster . . E.Evans . . . 235 

THE HIGHLAND WIDOW'S LAMENT. 

Nae zvoman in the world wide 

Sae wretched now as me. Alex. Johnston . W.J.Linton. . 241 

CA' THE EWES TO THE KNOWES {Frontispiece.) 
As I gaed down the water side, 
There I met my shepherd lad. Birket Foster . . E.Evans . . . 245 

LAST MAY A BRAW WOOER. 

So e'en to preserve the poor body in life, 

I think I maun wed him to-morrow. Alex. Johnston . E. Evans . . . 249 

DAINTY DAVIE. 

And now comes in my happy hours 

To wander w? my Davie. Birket Foster . . E.Evans . . . 257 



The Ornaments and . . . Tail-pieces. W. H. Rogers. . . E. Evans. 



POEMS AND SONGS 



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THE COTTER'S SATURDAY NIGHT. 



INSCRIBED TO R. AIKEN, ESQ. 



Let not Ambition mock their useful toil, 
Their homely joys, and destiny obscure ; 

Nor Grandeur hear, with a disdainful smile, 
The short but simple annals of the Poor. — Gray. 



My loved, my honour'd, much-respected friend ! 

No mercenary bard his homage pays ; 
With honest pride, I scorn each selfish end, 

My dearest meed, a friend's esteem and praise 



2 THE COTTER S SATURDAY NIGHT. 

To you I sing, in simple Scottish lays, 

The lowly train in life's sequester'd scene ; 

The native feelings strong, the guileless ways ; 
What Aiken in a cottage would have been ; 

Ah ! though his worth unknown, far happier there, I ween ! 

November chill blaws loud wi' angry sugh ; 

The shortening winter-day is near a close ; 
The miry beasts retreating frae the pleugh ; 

The blackening trains o' craws to their repose : 
The toil-worn Cotter frae his labour goes, 

This night his weekly moil is at an end, 
Collects his spades, his mattocks, and his hoes, 

Hoping the morn in ease and rest to spend, 
And weary, o'er the muir, his course does hameward bend. 

At length his lonely cot appears in view, 

Beneath the shelter of an aged tree ; 
Th' expectant wee-things, toddlin', stacher through 

To meet their Dad, wi' flichterin noise and glee. 
His wee bit ingle, blinkin' bonnilie, 

His clean hearth-stane, his thrifty wifie's smile, 
The lisping infant prattling on his knee, 

Does a' his weary carkin' cares beguile, 
And makes him quite forget his labour and his toil. 

Belyve the elder bairns come drappin' in, 

At service out amang the farmers roun' ; 
Some ca' the pleugh, some herd, some tentie rin 

A cannie errand to a neebor town : 
Their eldest hope, their Jenny, woman-grown, 

In youthfu' bloom, love sparklin' in her e'e, 
Comes hame, perhaps, to show a braw new gown, 

Or deposit her sair-won penny fee, 
To help her parents dear, if they in hardship be. 




As I gaed down the water-side, 
There I met my shepherd lad, 
He row'd me sweetly in his plaid, 
An' he ca'd me his dearie. 



THE COTTER'S SATURDAY NIGHT. 3 

\VT joy unfeign'd brothers and sisters meet, 

And each for other's weelfare kindly spiers : 
The social hours, swift-wing'd, unnoticed fleet ; 

Each tells the uncos that he sees or hears ; 
The parents, partial, eye their hopefu' years : 

Anticipation forward points the view : 
The Mother, wi' her needle and her shears, 

Gars auld claes look amaist as weel's the new ; 
The Father mixes a' wi' admonition due. 

Their masters' and their mistresses' command 

The younkers a' are warned to obey ; 
And mind their labours wi' an eydent hand, 

And ne'er, though out o' sight, to jauk or play ; 
" And O ! be sure to fear die Lord alway ! 

And mind your duty duly morn and night ! 
Lest in temptation's path ye gang astray, 

Implore his counsel and assisting might : 
They never sought in vain that sought the Lord aright." 

But, hark ! a rap comes gently to the door : 

Jenny, wha kens the meaning o' the same, 
Tells how a neebor lad cam' o'er the moor, 

To do some errands, and convoy her hame. 
The wily mother sees the conscious flame 

Sparkle in Jenny's e'e, and flush her cheek ; 
With heart-struck anxious care inquires his name, 

While Jenny hafflins is afraid to speak : 
Weel pleased the mother hears it's nae wild worthless rake. 

Wi' kindly welcome Jenny brings him ben : 
A strappin' youth ! he tak's the mother's eye ; 

Blythe Jenny sees the visit 's no ill-ta'en ; 

The father cracks o' horses, pleughs, and kye. 

The youngster's artless heart o'erflows wi' joy, 
But blate and laithfu', scarce can weel behave ; 

The mother, wi' a woman's wiles, can spy 



4 THE COTTER S SATURDAY NIGHT, 

What mak's the youth sae bashfu' and sae grave : 
Weel pleased to think her bairn's respectit like the lave. 

O happy love ! where love like this is found ! 
O heartfelt raptures ! bliss beyond compare ! 




I've paced much this weary, mortal round, 
And sage experience bids me this declare — - 

" If Heav'n a draught of heavenly pleasure spare, 
One cordial in this melancholy vale, 

Tis when a youthful, loving, modest pair, 



THE COTTERS SATURDAY NIGHT. 5 

In other's arms breathe out the tender tale, 
Beneath the milk-white thorn that scents the evening gale." 

Is there, in human form, that bears a heart — 

A wretch ! a villain ! lost to love and truth ! 
That can, with studied, sly, ensnaring art, 

Betray sweet Jenny's unsuspecting youth 1 
Curse on his perjured arts ! dissembling smooth ! 

Are honour, virtue, conscience, all exiled ? 
Is there no pity, no relenting ruth, 

Points to the parents fondling o'er their child ! 
Then paints the ruin'd maid, and their distraction wild 1 

But now the supper crowns their simple board, 

The halesome parritch, chief o' Scotia's food ; 
The sowp their only hawkie does afford, 

That 'yont the hallan snugly chows her cood : 
The dame brings forth in complimental mood, 

To grace the lad, her weel-hain'd kebbuck, fell, 
And aft he's prest, and aft he ca's it gude ; 

The frugal wine, garrulous, will tell, 
How 'twas a towmond auld, sin' lint was i' the bell 

The cheerfu' supper done, wi' serious face, 

They round the ingle form a circle wide ; 
The sire turns o'er, wi' patriarchal grace, 

The big ha'-Bible, ance his father's pride ; 
His bonnet rev'rently is laid aside, 

His lyart haffets wearing thin and bare ; 
Those strains that once did sweet in Zion glide, 

He wales a portion with judicious care, 
And "Let us worship God!" he says, with solemn air. 

They chant their artless notes in simple guise : 
They tune their hearts, by far the noblest aim : 

Perhaps Dundee's wild warbling measures rise, 
Or plaintive Martyrs, worthy of the name ; 



6 THE COTTER S SATURDAY NIGHT. 

Or noble Elgin beets the heav'nward flame, 

The sweetest far of Scotia's holy lays : 
Compared wi' these, Italian trills are tame ; 

The tickled ears no heartfelt raptures raise ; 
Nae unison ha'e they wi' our Creator's praise. 

The priest-like father reads the sacred page, 

How Abram was the friend of God on high : 
Or Moses bade eternal warfare wage 

With Amalek's ungracious progeny ; 
Or how the royal bard did groaning lie 

Beneath the stroke of Heaven's avenging ire ; 
Or Job's pathetic plaint, and wailing cry ; 

Or rapt Isaiah's wild, seraphic fire ; 
Or other holy seers that tune the sacred lyre. 

Perhaps the Christian volume is the theme, 

How guiltless blood for guilty man was shed ; 
How He, who bore in heaven the second name, 

Had not on earth whereon to lay his head : 
How his first followers and servants sped ; 

The precepts sage they wrote to many a land : 
How he, who lone in Patmos banished, 

Saw in the sun a mighty angel stand ; 
And heard great Bab'lon's doom pronounced by Heaven's 
command. 

Then kneeling down to Heaven's Eternal King, 

The saint, the father, and the husband prays : 
Hope "springs exulting on triumphant wing," 

That thus they all shall meet in future days : 
There ever bask in uncreated rays, 

No more to sigh, or shed the bitter tear, 
Together hymning their Creator's praise, 

In such society, yet still more dear; 
While circling time moves round in an eternal sphere. 



THE COTTER S SATURDAY NIGHT. 

Compared with this, how poor Religion's pride, 
In all the pomp of method, and of art, 

When men display to congregations wide, 
Devotion's every grace, except the heart ! 




The power, incensed, the pageant will desert, 
The pompous strain, the sacerdotal stole ; 

But haply, in some cottage far apart, 

May hear, well pleased, the language of the soul ;. 

And in his book of life the inmates poor enrol. 



8 THE COTTERS SATURDAY NIGHT. 

Then homeward all take off their several way : 

The youngling cottagers retire to rest ; 
The parent pair their secret homage pay, 

And proffer up to Heav'n the warm request — 
That He, who stills the raven's clamorous nest, 

And decks the lily fair in flowery pride, 
Would, in the way his wisdom sees the best, 

For them and for their little ones provide ; 
But chiefly in their hearts with grace divine preside. 



From scenes like these old Scotia's grandeur springs, 

That makes her loved at home, revered abroad : 
Princes and lords are but the breath of kings, 

" An honest man 's the noblest work of God : *' 
And certes, in fair Virtue's heavenly road, 

The cottage leaves the palace far behind ; 
What is a lordling's pomp ? a cumbrous load, 

Disguising oft the wretch of human kind, 
Studied in arts of hell, in wickedness refined ! 



O Scotia ! my dear, my native soil ; 

For whom my warmest wish to Heaven is sent ! 
Long may thy hardy sons of rustic toil 

Be bless'd with health, and peace, and sweet content ! 
And, oh, may Heaven their simple lives prevent 

From luxury's contagion, weak and vile ! 
Then, howe'er crowns and coronets be rent, 

A virtuous populace may rise the while, 
And stand a wall of fire around their much-loved Isle. 



O Thou ! who pour'd the patriotic tide 

That stream'd thro' Wallace's undaunted heart, 

Who dared to nobly stem tyrannic pride, 
Or nobly die, the second glorious part, 



THE COTTER S SATURDAY NIGHT, 



(The patriot's God peculiarly thou art, 

His friend, inspirer, guardian, and reward ;) 




O never, never, Scotia's realm desert ! 

But still the patriot, and tire patriot bard, 
In bright succession raise, her ornament and guard. 



VERSES 

LEFT AT A REVEREND FRIEND'S HOUSE, IN THE ROOM WHERE 
THE AUTHOR SLEPT. 

O Thou dread Pow'r, who reign'st above, 

I know thou wilt me hear ; 
When for this scene of peace and love, 

I make my pray'r sincere. 

The hoary sire — the mortal stroke, 

Long, long be pleased to spare ! 
To bless his little filial flock, 

And show what good men are. 

She, who her lovely offspring eyes 

With tender hopes and fears, 
O bless her with a mother's joys, 

But spare a mother's tears ! 

Their hope, their stay, their darling youth, 

In manhood's dawning blush ; 
Bless him, thou God of love and truth, 

Up to a parent's wish ! 

The beauteous seraph sister-band, 

With earnest tears I pray, 
Thou know'st the snares on every hand, 

Guide thou their steps alway ! 

When soon or late they reach that coast, 

O'er life's rough ocean driven, 
May they rejoice, no wand'rer lost, 

A family in heaven ! 



THE 
DEATH AND DYING WORDS OF POOR MAILIE, 

THE AUTHOR'S ONLY PET YOWE. 

An unco mournfit Tale. 

As Mailie and her lambs thegither, 
Were ae day nibbling on the tether. 
Upon her cloot she coost a hitch, 
And owre she warsled in the ditch ; 
There, groaning, dying, she did lie, 
When Hughoc he came doytin by. 

Wi' glowrin een, and lifted han's, 
Poor^Hughoc like a statue Stan's ; 
He saw her days were near-hand endit, 
But, waes my heart ! he cou'dna mend it ! 
He gaped wide, but naething spak' ! 
At length poor Mailie silence brak' : 

" O thou, whase lamentable face 
Appears to mourn my woefu' case ! 
My dying words attentive hear, 
And bear them to my Master dear : 

" Tell him, if e'er again he keep 
As muckle gear as buy a sheep, 
O ! bid him never tie them mair 
Wi' wicked strings o' hemp or hair, 
But ca' them out to park or hill, 
And let them wander at their will ; 
So may his flock increase, and grow 
To scores o' lambs and packs o' woo'. 



12 THE DEATH AND DYING WORDS 

"Tell him, -he was a Master kin', 
And aye was glide to me and mine ; 
And now my dying charge I gi'e him, 
My helpless lambs I trust them wi' him, 

"O, bid -him save their harmless lives 
Frae dogs, and tods, and butchers' knives ! 
But gi'e them gude cow-milk their fill, 
Till they be fit to fend themsel' ; 
And tent them duly, e'en and morn, 
Wi' teats o' hay and rips o' corn. 

" And may they never learn the gaets 
Of ither vile wanrestfu' pets ! 
To slink thro' slaps, and reave and steal 
At stacks o' pease, or stocks o' kail. 
So may they, like their great forbears, 
For mony a year come thro' the shears : 
So wives will gi'e them bits o' bread, 
And bairns greet for them when they're dea< 

" My poor toop-lamb, my son and heir, 
O bid him breed him up wi' care ! 
And if he live to be a beast, 
To pit some havins in his breast ; 
And warn him, what I winna name, 
To stay content wi' yowes at hame ; 
And no' to rin and wear his cloots. 
Like ither menseless, graceless brutes. 

" And neist, my yowie, silly thing, 
Gude keep thee frae a tether string ! 
O, may thou ne'er forgather up 
Wi' only blastit, moorland toop ! 
But aye keep mind to moop and meli 
Wi' sheep o' credit like thysel. 



OF POOR MAILIE, 1 3 

"And now, my bairns, wi' my last breath, 
I lea'e my blessin' wi' you baith ; 
And when you think upon your mither, 
Mind to be kind to ane anither. 

" Now, honest Hughoc, dinna fail 
To tell my master a' my tale ; 
And bid him burn this cursed tether ; 
And for thy pains thou's get my blether/ 1 

This said, poor Mailie turn'd her head, 
And closed her een amang the dead ! 




THE AULD FARMER'S NEW-YEAR MORNING SALUTATION 
TO HIS AULD MARE MAGGIE, 

On giving her the accustomed ripp of com to hansel in the iVezo Van 

A Gude New- Year I wish thee, Maggie ! 
Hae, there's a ripp to thy auld baggie ; 
Tho' thou's howe-backit now, and knaggie. 

I've seen the day, 
Thou could ha'e gaen like ony staggie 

Out-owre the lay. 

Tho' now thou's dowie, stiff, and crazy, 
And thy auld hide's as white's a daisy, 
I've seen thee dapplet, sleek, and glaizie, 
A bonnie gray : 



14 THE AULD FARMER'S NEW-YEAR SALUTATION 

He should been tight that daur't to raize thee 
Ance in a day. 

Thou ance was i' the foremost rank, 
A filly buirdly, steeve, and swank, 
And set weel down a shapely shank 

As e'er trod yird ; 
And could ha'e flown out-owre a stank 

Like ony bird. 

It's now some nine-and-twenty year, 
Sin' thou was my guid father's meere, 
He gied me thee, o' tocher clear, 

And fifty mark : 
Though it was sraa', 'twas weel-won gear, 

And thou was stark. 

When first I gaed to woo my Jenny, 
Ye then was trottin' wi' your minnie : 
Tho' ye was trickie, slee, and funny, 

Ye ne'er was donsie ; 
But namely, tawie, quiet, and cannie, 

And unco sonsie. 

That day ye pranced wi' muckle pride, 
When ye bure hame my bonny bride; 
And sweet and gracefu' she did ride, 

Wi' maiden air ! 
Kyle-Stewart I could bragged wide, 

For sic a pair. 

Tho' now ye dow but hoyte and hoble, 
And wintle like a saumont-coble, 
That day ye was a j inker noble, 

For heels and win', 
And ran them till they a' did wauble 

Far, far behin'. 



TO HIS AULD MARE MAGGIE, 



15. 



When thou and I were young and skeigh, 
And stable-meals at fairs were driegh, 



[>'4 




How thou wad prance, and snort and skreigh, 
And tak' the road ! 



THE AULD FARMERS NEW-YEAR SALUTATION 

Town's bodies ran, and stood abeigh, 
And ca't thee mad. 

When thou was corn't, and I was mellow, 
We took the road ay like a swallow : 
At brooses thou had ne'er a fallow, 

For pith and speed ; 
But every tail thou pay't them hollow, 

Whare'er thou gaed. 

The sma', droop-rumpl't hunter cattle, 
Might aiblins waur't thee for a brattle ; 
But sax Scotch miles thou try't their mettle, 

And gar't them whaizle ; 
Nae whip nor spur, but just a wattle 

O' saugh or hazel. 

Thou was a noble fittie-lan' 

As e'er in tug or tow was drawn ; 

Aft thee and I, in aught hours gaun, 

In gude March weather, 
Ha'e turn'd sax rood beside our han', 

For days thegither. 

Thou never braindg't, and fech't, and fliskit, 
Pint thy auld tail thou wad hae whiskit, 
And spread abreed thy weel-fill'd brisket, 

Wi' pith and power, 
Till spritty knowes wad rair't and riskit 

An' slypet owre. 

When frosts lay lang, and snaws were deep, 
And threaten'd labour back to keep, 
I gied thy cog a wee bit heap 

Aboon the timmer , 
I ken'd my Maggie wad na sleep 

For that, or simmer. 



TO HIS AULD MARE MAGGIE. 1 7 

In cart or car thou never reestit ; 

The steyest brae thou wad hae faced it ; 

Thou never lap, and sten't, and breastit, 

Then stood to blaw ; 
But just thy step a wee thing hastit, 

The snoov't awa\ 

My pleugh is now thy bairn-time a' ; 
Four gallant brutes as e'er did draw ; 
Forbye sax mae, I've sell'd awa, 

That thou hast nurst : 
They drew me thretteen pund and twa, 

The very warst. 

Mony a sair darg we twa ha'e wrought, 
And wi' the weary warl' fought ! 
And mony an anxious day, I thought 

We wad be beat ! 
Yet here to crazy age we're brought, 

Wi' something yet. 

And think na ? my auld trusty servan', 
That now, perhaps, thou's less deservin', 
And thy auld days may end in starvin', 

For my last fou, 
A heapit stimpart, I'll reserve ane 

Laid by for you. 

We've worn to crazy years thegither, 
We'll toyte about wi' ane anither ; 
Wi' tentie care I'll fit thy tether 

To some hain'd rig, 
Whare ye may nobly rax your leather, 

With sma' fatigue. 



STANZAS 



IN THE PROSPECT OF DEATH. 



Why am I loth to leave this earthly scene ? 

Have I so found it full of pleasing charms 1 
Some drops of joy, with draughts of ill between : 

Some gleams of sunshine 'mid renewing storms : 
Is it departing pangs my soul alarms % 

Or death's unlovely, dreary, dark abode % 
For guilt, for guilt, my terrors are in arms ! 

I tremble to approach an angry God, 
And justly smart beneath his sin-avenging rod. 

Fain would I say, " Forgive my foul offence !" 

Fain promise never more to disobey ; 
But, should my Author health again dispense, 

Again I might desert fair Virtue's way ; 
Again in Folly's path might go astray ; 

Again exalt the brute, and sink the man ; 
Then how should I for heavenly mercy pray, 

Who act so counter heavenly mercy's plan 1 
Who sin so oft have mourn'd, yet to temptation ran 

O Thou, great Governor of all below ! 

If I may dare a lifted eye to Thee, 
Thy nod can make the tempest cease to blow, 

Or still the tumult of the raging sea : 
With that controlling pow'r assist e'en me, 

Those headlong furious passions to confine ; 
For all unfit I feel my pow'rs to be, 

To rule their torrent in th' allowed line ; 
O, aid me with thy help, Omnipotence Divine ! 



A WINTER NIGHT. 



Poor naked wretches, wheresoe'er you are, 
That bide the pelting of this pitiless storm ! 
How shall your houseless heads, and unfed sides. 
Your loop'd and window'd rag-gedness, defend you 
Prom seasons such as these ?— Shakspeare. 



When biting Boreas, fell and doure, 
Sharp shivers through the leafless bow'r ; 
When Phoebus gies a short-lived glow'r 

Far south the lift — 
Dim-dark'ning thro' the flaky show'r, 

Or whirling drift : 

Ae night the storm the steeples rocked, 
Poor Labour sweet in sleep was locked, 
While burns, wi' snawy wreaths up-choked, 

Wild-eddying swirl, 
Or thro' the mining outlet bock'd, 

Down headlong hurl. 

List'ning the doors and winnocks rattle, 
I thought me on the ourie cattle, 
Or silly sheep, wha bide this brattle 

O' winter war, 
And thro' the drift, deep-lay'ring, sprattle 

Beneath a scar. 

Ilk happing bird, wee helpless thing ! 
That, in the merry months o' spring, 
Delighted me to hear thee sing, 

What comes o' thee 1 
Whare wilt thou cow'r thy chittering wing, 

And close thy e'e 1 



20 A WINTER NIGHT. 

Ev'n you on murd'ring errands toil'd, 
Lone from your savage homes exiled, 
The blood-stain'd roost, and sheep-cote spoil'd, 

My heart forgets, 
While pitiless the tempest wild 

Sore on you beats. 

Now Phoebe, in her midnight reign, 
Dark muffled, view'd the dreary plain ; 
Still crowding thoughts, a pensive train, 

Rose in my soul, 
When on my ear this plaintive strain, 

Slow, solemn, stole— 

" Blow, blow, ye winds, with heavier gust ! 
And freeze, thou bitter-biting frost ; 
Descend, ye chilly smothering snows ! 
Not all your rage, as now united, shows 

More hard unkindness, unrelenting, 

Vengeful malice, unrepenting, 
Than heav'n-illumined Man on brother Man bestows. 

See stern Oppression's iron grip, 
Or mad Ambition's gory hand, 

Sending, like blood-hounds from the slip, 
Woe, want, and murder o'er a land ! 

Ev'n in the peaceful rural vale, 

Truth, weeping, tells the mournful tale, 
How pamper'd Luxury, Flatt'ry by her side, 

The parasite empoisoning her ear, 

With all the servile wretches in the rear, 
Looks o'er proud Property extended wide, 

And eyes the simple, rustic Hind, 

Whose toil upholds the glittering show, 

A creature of another kind, 

Some coarser substance, unrefined, 
Placed for her lordly use thus far, thus vile below. 

Where, where is Love's fond, tender throe, 



A WINTER NIGHT. 

With lordly Honour's lofty brow, 
The powers you proudly own 1 
Is there, beneath Love's noble name, 
Can harbour, dark, the selfish aim, 
To bless himself alone 1 




Mark maiden-innocence a prey 
To love-pretending snares ; 

This boasted honour turns away, 

Shunning soft Pity's rising sway, 
Regardless of the tears and unavailing prayers , 

Perhaps, this hour, in Mis'ry's squalid nest, 

She strains your infant to her joyless breast, 
And with a mother's fears shrinks at the rocking blast 



2 A WINTER NIGHT. 

Oh ye ! who, sunk in beds of down, 
Feel not a want but what yourselves create, 
Think, for a moment, on his wretched fate, 
Whom friends and fortune quite disown ! 

Ill-satisfied keen Nature's clam'rous call, 

Stretch'd on his straw he lays himself to sleep, 

While thro' the ragged roof and chinky wall, 
Chill o'er his slumbers piles the drifty heap ! 
Think on the dungeon's grim confine, 
Where Guilt and poor Misfortune pine ! 
Guilt, erring man, relenting view ! 
But shall thy legal rage pursue 
The wretch already crushed low 
By cruel fortune's undeserved blow 1 

Affliction's sons are brothers in distress ; 

A brother to relieve, how exquisite the bliss !" 

I heard nae mair, for Chanticleer 

Shook off the pouthery snaw, 
And hail'd the morning wi' a cheer, 

A cottage-rousing craw. 

But deep this truth impress'd my mind — 
Through all His works abroad, 

The heart benevolent and kind 
The most resembles God. 




2 3 



■TO A MOUSE, 

ON TURNING HER UP IN HER NEST WITH THE PLOUGH. 

Wee, sleekit, cowerin', tim'rous beastie, 
O, what a panic's in thy breastie ! 
Thou need na start awa' sae hastie, 

Wi' bickering brattle ! 
I wad be laith to rin an' chase thee, 

Wi' murd rin' pattle ! 

I'm truly sorry man's dominion 
Has broken Nature's social union, 
And justifies that ill opinion 

Which makes thee startle 
At me, thy poor, earth-born companion, 

An' fellow-mortal. 

I doubt na, whiles, but thou may thieve ; 
What then ? poor beastie, thou maun live ! 
A daimen-icker in a thrave 

'S a sma' request : 
I'll get a blessin' wi' the lave, 

And never miss't. 

Thy wee bit housie, too, in ruin ! 
Its silly wa's the win's are strewin ! 
An' naething now to big a new ane 

O' foggage green ! 
An' bleak December's winds ensuin', 

Baith snell and keen ! 



24 TO A MOUSE. 

Thou saw the fields laid bare and waste, 
An' weary winter coming fast, 
An' cozie here, beneath the blast, 

Thou thought to dwell. 
Till crash ! the cruel coultert past 

Out through thy cell. 

That wee bit heap o' leaves and stibble, 
Has cost thee mony a weary nibble ! 
Now thou's turn'd out, for a' thy trouble, 

But house or hald, 
To thole the winter's sleety dribble, 

And cranreuch cauld ! 

But, Mousie, thou art no thy lane, 
In proving foresight may be vain : 
The best-laid schemes o' mice and men 

Gang aft a-gley, 
And lea'e us nought but grief and pain, 

For promised joy. 

Still thou art blest, compared wi' me ! 
The present only toucheth thee ; 
But, och ! I backward cast my e'e, 

On prospects drear ! 
And forward, though I canna see, 

I guess an' fear. 





LAMENT OF MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS, 



ON THE APPROACH OF SPRING. 



Now Nature hangs her mantle green 

On every blooming tree, 
And spreads her sheets o' daisies white 

Out o'er the grassy lea : 

E 



2 6 LAMENT OF MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. 

Now Phoebus cheers the crystal streams, 

And glads the azure skies ; 
But nocht can glad the weary wight 

That fast in durance lies. 

Now lav'rocks wake the merry mom, 

Aloft on dewy wing; 
The merle, in his noontide bow'r, 

Makes woodland echoes ring ; 
The mavis mild, wi' many a note, 

Sings drowsy day to rest : 
In love and freedom they rejoice, 

Wi' care nor thrall opprest. 

Now blooms the lily by the bank, 

The primrose down the brae ; 
The hawthorn 's budding in the glen, 

And milk-white is the slae : 
The meanest hind in fair Scotland 

May rove their sweets amang ; 
But I, the Queen of a' Scotland, 

Maun lie in prison Strang. 

I was the Queen o' bonnie France, 

Where happy I ha'e been ; 
Fu' lightly raise I in the morn, 

As blythe lay down at e'en : 
And I'm the Sov'reign of Scotland, 

And monie a traitor there : 
Yet here I lie in foreign bands, 

And never-ending care. 

But as for thee, thou false woman ! 

My sister and my fae, 
Grim Vengeance, yet, shall whet a sword 

That through thy soul shall gae : 



LAMENT OF MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. 27 

The weeping blood in woman's breast 

Was never known to thee ; 
Nor th' balm that drops on wounds of woe 

Frae woman's pitying e'e. 

My son ! my son ! may kinder stars 

Upon thy fortune shine ; 
And may those pleasures gild thy reign, 

That ne'er wad blink on mine ! 
God keep thee frae thy mother's faes, 

Or turn their hearts to thee ; 
And where thou meet'st thy mother's friend, 

Remember him for me ! 

Oh ! soon, to me, may summer suns 

Nae mair light up the morn ! 
Nae mair, to me, the autumn winds 

Wave o'er the yellow corn ! 
And in the narrow house o' death 

Let winter round me rave ; 
And the next flowers that deck the spring 

Bloom on my peaceful grave ! 




28 



ON THE BIRTH OF A POSTHUMOUS CHILD, 

Born in peculiar circumstances of family distress. 

Sweet flow'ret, pledge o' meikle love 

And ward o' monie a pray'r, 
What heart o' stane wad thou na move, 

Sae helpless, sweet, and fair ! 

November hirples o'er the lea, 

Chill, on thy lovely form ; 
And gane, alas ! the sheltering tree, 

Should shield thee frae the storm. 

May He who gives the rain to pour, 

And wings the blast to blaw, 
Protect thee frae the driving show'r, 

The bitter frost and snaw ! 

May He, the friend of woe and want, 
Who heals life's various stounds, 

Protect and guard the mother plant, 
And heal her -cruel wounds ! 

But late she flourish'd, rooted fast, 

Fair on the summer morn : 
Now feebly bends she in the blast, 

Unshelter'd and forlorn. 

Blest be thy bloom, thou lovely gem, 

Unscathed by ruffian hand ! 
And from thee many a parent stem 

Arise to deck our land ! 



2 9 



TO MISS CRUICKSHANKS, 

A VERY YOUNG LADY, 

Written on the blank leaf of a book, presented to her by the Author. 

Beauteous rose-bud, young and gay, 
Blooming in thy early May, 
Never may'st thou, lovely flow'r, 
Chilly shrink in sleety show'r ! 
Never Boreas' hoary path, 
Never Eurus' pois'nous breath, 
Never baleful stellar lights, 
Taint thee with untimely blights ! 
Never, never reptile thief 
Riot on thy virgin leaf! 
Nor even Sol too fiercely view 
Thy bosom blushing still with dew ! 

May'st thou long, sweet crimson gem, 
Richly deck thy native stem, 
Till some evening, sober, calm, 
Dropping dews, and breathing balm, 
While all around the woodland rings, 
And every bird thy requiem sings ; 
Thou, amid the dirgeful sound, 
Shed thy dying honours round, 
And resign to parent Earth 
The loveliest form she e'er gave birth. 





-~:^3a»SS 



WINTER. 



The wintry west extends his blast, 
And hail and rain does blaw, 

Or the stormy north sends driving forth 
The blinding sleet and snaw; 



WINTER. 31 

While, tumbling brown, the burn comes down, 

And roars frae bank to brae ; 
And bird and beast in covert rest, 

And pass the heartless day. 

" The sweeping blast, the sky o'ercast," 

The joyless winter-day, 
Let others fear, to me more dear 

Than all the pride of May : 
The tempest's howl, it soothes my soul, 

My griefs it seems to join ; 
The leafless trees my fancy please, 

Their fate resembles mine. 

Thou Power Supreme, whose mighty scheme 

These woes of mine fulfil, 
Here, firm, I rest, they must be best, 

Because they are Thy Will ! 
Then all I want, (O, do thou grant 

This one request of mine !) 
Since to enjoy Thou dost deny, 

Assist me to resign ! 




32 



THE TWA DOGS. 



'Twas in that place o' Scotland's isle 
That bears the name o' Auld King Coil, 
Upon a bonnie day in June, 
When wearing through the afternoon, 
Twa dogs, that were na thrang at hame, 
Forgather'd ance upon a time. 

The first I'll name, they ca'd him Csesar, 
Was keepit for his honour's pleasure ; 
His hair, his size, his mouth, his lugs, 
Shaw'd he was nane o' Scotland's dogs, 
But whalpit some place far abroad, 
Where sailors gang to fish for cod. 

His lock'd, letter'd, braw brass collar, 
Shaw'd him the gentleman and scholar ; 
But though he was o' high degree, 
The fient a pride, nae pride had he ; 
But wad ha'e spent an hour caressin' 
Ev'n wi' a tinkler gipsy's messin : 
At kirk or market, mill or smiddie, 
Nae tawted tyke, though e'er sae duddie, 
But he wad stand as glad to see him, 
And stroan't on stanes an' hillocks wi' him. 

The tither was a ploughman's collie, 
A rhyming, ranting, roving billie, 
Wha for his friend and comrade had him, 
And in his freaks had Luath ca'd him, 
After some dog in Highland sang, 
Was made lang syne — Gude kens how lang. 



THE TWA DOGS. 33 

He was a gash an' faithfu' tyke, 
As ever lap a sheugh or dyke ; 
His honest, sonsie, baws'nt face, 
Aye gat him friends in ilka place. 
His breast was white, his towzie back 
Weel clad wi' coat o' glossy black ; 
His gawcie tail, wi' upward curl, 
Hung o'er his hurdies wi' a swirl. 

Nae doubt but they were fain o' ither, 
And unco pack and thick thegither : 
Wi' social nose whyles snuff'd and snowkit ; 
Whyles mice and moudieworts they howkit; 
Whyles scour'd awa' in lang excursion, 
And worried ither in diversion ; 
Until wi' damn weary grown, 
Upon a knowe they sat them down, 
And there began a lang digression 
About the lords of the creation. 

C/ESAR. 

I've aften wonder'd, honest Luath, 
What sort o' life poor dogs like you have ; 
And when the gentry's life I saw, 
What way poor bodies lived ava. 

Our laird gets in his racked rents, 
His coals, his kain, and a' his stents : 
He rises when he likes himsel' ; 
His flunkies answer at the bell : 
He ca's his coach : he ca's his horse ; 
He draws a bonnie silken purse 
As lang's my tail, whare, through the steeks, 
The yellow-letter'd geordie keeks. 

Frae morn to e'en it's nought but toiling 
At baking, roasting, frying, boiling ; 

F 



34 TH E TWA DOGS. 

And though the gentry first are stechin, 
Yet e'en the ha' folk fill their pechan 
Wi' sauce, ragouts, and sic like trashtrie, 
That's little short o' downright wastrie. 
Our whipper-in, wee blastit wonner, 
Poor worthless elf, it eats a dinner 
Better than ony tenant man 
His Honour has on a' the Ian' : 
And what poor cot-folk pit their painch in, 
I own it's past my comprehension. 

LUATH. 

Trowth, Caesar, whiles they 're fash't eneugh ; 

A cotter howkin in a sheugh, 

Wi' dirty stanes biggin' a dyke, 

Barm' a quarry, and sic like ; 

Himsel', a wife, he thus sustains, 

A smytrie o' wee duddy weans, 

And nought but his han'-darg to keep 

Them right and tight in thack and rape. 

And when they meet wi' sair disasters, 
Like loss o' health, or want of masters, 
Ye maist wad think, a wee touch langer 
An' they maun starve o' cauld and hunger; 
But how it comes I never kend yet, 
They're maistly wonderfu' contented'; 
And buirdly chiels, and clever hizzies, 
Are bred in sic a way as this is. 

CAESAR. 

But then, to see how ye 're negleckit, 
How huff'd, and cuff 'd, and disrespeckit ; 
Lord, man ! our gentry care as little 
For delvers, ditchers, and sic cattle, 
They gang as saucy by poor folk 
As I wad by a stinking brock. 



THE TWA DOGS. 



35 



I've noticed, on our Laird's court-day, 
And mony a time my heart's been wae, 
Poor tenant bodies, scant o' cash, 




How they maun thole a factor's snash ; 
He'll stamp and threaten, curse and swear, 
He '11 apprehend them, poind their gear ; 



36 



THE TWA DOGS, 

While they maun stan', wi' aspect humble 
And hear it a', and fear and tremble ! 
I see how folk live that ha'e riches ; 
But surely poor folk maun be wretches ! 

LUATH. 

They're no sae wretched 's ane wad think; 
Though constantly on poortith's brink, 
They're sae accustom'd wi' the sight, 
The view o't gi'es them little fright. 

Then chance and fortune are sae guided, 
They're aye in less or mair provided : 
And though fatigued _wi' close employment, 
A blink o' rest's a sweet enjoyment. 

The dearest comfort o' their lives, 
Their grushie weans and faithfu' wives ; 
The prattling things are just their pride, 
That sweetens a' their fire-side. 

And, whyles, twalpenny worth o' nappy 
Can mak' the bodies unco happy; 
They lay aside their private cares, 
To mind the Kirk and State affairs : 
They'll talk o' patronage and priests, 
Wi' kindling fury in their breasts ; 
Or tell what new taxation's comin', 
And ferlie at the folk in Lon'on. 

As bleak-faced Hallowmas returns, 
They get the jovial, rantin' kirns, 
When rural life o' every station 
Unite in common recreation ; 
Love blinks, Wit slaps, and social Mirth 
Forgets there's Care upo' the earth. 

That merry day the year begins, 
They bar the door on frosty win's ; 
The nappy reeks wi' mantling ream, 



THE TWA DOGS. 37 

And sheds a heart-inspiring steam ; 
The luntin' pipe, and sneeshin' mill, 
Are handed round wi' right gude-will ; 
The canty auld folks crackin' crouse, 
The young anes rantin' through the house : 
My heart has been sae fain to see them, 
That I for joy ha'e barkit wi' them. 

Still it's owre true that ye ha'e said, 
Sic game is now owre often play'd. 
There's mony a creditable stock 
O' decent, honest-fawsont folk, 
Are riven out baith root and branch, 
Some rascal's pridefu' greed to quench, 
Wha thinks to knit himsel' the faster 
In favour wi' some gentle master, 
Wha, aiblins, thrang a-parliamentin', 
For Britain's gude his saul indentin' — 

CAESAR. 

Haith, lad, ye little ken about it ; 

For Britain's gude ! gude faith, I doubt it ! 

Say rather, gaun, as Premiers lead him, 

And saying ay or no 's they bid him ! 

At operas and plays parading, 

Mortgaging, gambling, masquerading ; 

Or maybe, in a frolic daft, 

To Hague or Calais tak's a waft, 

To mak' a tour and tak' a whirl, 

To learn bon ton, and see the warl'. 

There, at Vienna or Versailles, 
He rives his father's auld entails ; 
Or by Madrid he takes the route, 
To thrum guitars and fecht wi' nowt ; 
Then bouses drumly German water, 
To mak' himsel' look fair and fatter. 
For Britain's gude ! for her destruction ! 
Wi' dissipation, feud, and faction. 



38 THE TWA DOGS. 

LUATH. 

Hech, man ! dear sirs ! is that the gate 
They waste sae monie a braw estate ? 
Are we sae foughten and harass'd 
For gear to gang that gate at last % 

O wad they stay a,back frae courts, 
And please themsel's wi' country sports, 
It wad for every ane be better, 
The laird, the tenant, and the cotter ! 
For thae frank, rantin' ramblin' billies, 
Fient haet o' them's ill-hearted fellows, 
Except for breaking o' their timmer, 
Or speaking lightly o' their limmer, 
Or shootin' o' a hare or moor-cock, 
The ne'er a bit they're ill to poor folk. 

But will ye tell me, Master Caesar, 
Sure great folk's life 's a life o' pleasure ! 
Nae cauld nor hunger e'er can steer them, 
The very thought o't needna fear them. 

CESAR. 

Lord, man, were ye but whyles whare I am, 
The gentles ye wad ne'er envy 'em. 

It's true they need na starve or sweat, 
Through winter's cauld, or simmer's heat ; 
They've nae sair wark to craze their banes, 
An' fill auld age wi' gripes an' granes : 
But human bodies are sic fools, 
For a' their colleges and schools, 
That when nae real ills perplex them, 
They mak enow themselves to vex them ; 
An' aye the less they ha'e to sturt them, 
In like proportion less will hurt them. 

A country fellow at the pleugh, 
His acres till'd, he 's right eneugh ; 



THE TWA DOGS. 39 

A country girl at her wheel, 
Her dizzens done, she 's unco weel : 
But gentlemen, an' ladies warst, 
Wi' ev'ndown want o' wark are curst. 
They loiter, lounging, lank, an' lazy ; 
Though de'il haet ails them, yet uneasy : 
Their days, insipid, dull, an' tasteless ; 
Their nights unquiet, lang, an' restless ; 
An' e'en their sports, their balls an' races, 
Their galloping through public places ; 
There's sic parade, sic pomp, an' art, 
The joy can scarcely reach the heart. 
The men cast out in party matches, 
Then sowther a' in deep debauches. 
The ladies arm-in-arm in clusters, 
As great and gracious a' as sisters ; 
But hear their absent thoughts o' 'ither, 
They're a' run deils and jads thegither. 
Whyles o'er the wee bit cup and platie, 
They sip the scandal potion pretty ; 
Or lee-lang nights, wi' crabbit leuks 
Pore owre the devil's pictured beuks ; 
Stake on a chance a farmer's stackyard, 
An' cheat like ony unhang'd blackguard. 
There 's some exception, man an' woman ; 
But this is gentry's life in common. 

By this, the sun was out o' sight, 
An' darker gloaming brought the night : 
The bum-clock humm'd wi' lazy drone ; 
The kye stood rowtin' i' the loan ; 
When up they gat, and shook their lugs, 
Rejoiced they were na men but dogs ; 
An' each took aff his several way, 
Resolved to meet some ither day. 



4° 



THE HUMBLE PETITION OF BRUAR WATER, 



TO THE NOBLE DUKE OF ATHOLE. 



My Lord, I know your noble ear 

Woe ne'er assails in vain ! 
Embolden'd thus, I beg you'll hear 

Your humble slave complain, 
How saucy Phoebus' scorching beams, 

In naming summer pride, 
Dry-withering, waste my foamy streams, 

And drink my crystal tide. 

The lightly-jumping glow'rin' trouts, 

That thro' my waters play, 
If, in their random, wanton spouts, 

They near the margin stray ; 
If, hapless chance ! they linger lang, 

I'm scorching up so shallow, 
They're left the whitening stanes amang, 

In gasping death to wallow. 

Last day I grat wi' spite and teen, 

As Poet Burns came by, 
That to a bard I should be seen 

Wi' half my channel dry : 
A panegyric rhyme, I ween, 

Ev'n as I was he shored me ; 
But had I in my glory been, 

He, kneeling, wad adored me. 



THE HUMBLE PETITION OF BRUAR WATER. 



41 



Here, foaming down the shelvy rocks, 

In twisting strength I rin ; 
There, high my boiling torrent smokes, 

Wild-roaring o'er a linn : 




Enjoying large each spring and well 
As nature gave them me, 

I am, altho' I say't mysel', 
Worth gaun a mile to see. 

G 



42 THE HUMBLE PETITION OF BRUAR WATER. 

Wad then my noble master please 

To grant my highest wishes, 
He'll shade my banks wi' tow'ring trees, 

And bonnie spreading bushes ; 
Delighted doubly then, my Lord, 

You'll wander on my banks, 
And listen mony a grateful bird 

Return you tuneful thanks. 

The sober laverock, warbling wild, 

Shall to the skies aspire ; 
The gowdspink, Music's gayest child, 

Shall sweetly join the choir : 
The blackbird strong, the lintwhite clear, 

The mavis mild and mellow ; 
The robin, pensive autumn cheer, 

In all her locks of yellow. 

This, too, a covert shall ensure, 

To shield them from the storm ; 
And coward maukin sleep secure, 

Low in her grassy form : 
Here shall the shepherd make his seat, 

To weave his crown o' flowers ; 
Or find a sheltering safe retreat, 

From prone descending show'rs. 

And here, by sweet endearing stealth, 

Shall meet the loving pair, 
Despising worlds with all their wealth 

As empty idle care ; 
The flowers shall vie in all their charms 

The hour of heaven to grace, 
And birks extend their fragrant arms 

To screen the dear embrace. 



THE HUMBLE PETITION OF BRUAR WATER. 43 

Here haply too, at vernal dawn, 

Some musing bard may stray, 
And eye the smoking, dewy lawn, 

And misty mountain grey ; 
Or, by the reaper's nightly beam, 

Mild-chequering thro' the trees, 
Rave to my darkly-dashing stream, 

Hoarse swelling on the breeze. 

Let lofty firs, and ashes cool, 

My lowly banks o'erspread, 
And view, deep-bending in the pool, 

Their shadows' wat'ry bed ! 
Let fragrant birks, in woodbines drest, 

My craggy cliff adorn ; 
And, for the little songster's nest, 

The close embow'ring thorn. 

So may old Scotia's darling hope, 

Your little angel band, 
Spring, like their fathers, up to prop 

Their honour'd native land ! 
So may, thro' Albion's farthest ken, 

To social flowing glasses, 
The grace be — " Athole's honest men, 

And Athole's bonnie lasses !" 




44 



ADDRESS TO EDINBURGH. 

Edina ! Scotia's darling seat ! 

All hail thy palaces and tow'rs, 
Where once beneath a monarch's feet 

Sat legislation's sov'reign pow'rs ! 
From marking wildly-scatter'd flow'rs, 

As on the banks of Ayr I stray'd, 
And singing, lone, the ling'ring hours, 

I shelter in thy honour'd shade. 

Here wealth still swells the golden tide, 

As busy Trade his labours plies ; 
The architecture's noble pride 

Bids elegance and splendour rise ; 
Here Justice, from her native skies, 

High wields her balance and her rod 
There Learning, with his eagle eyes, 

Seeks Science in her coy abode. 

Thy sons, Edina, social, kind, 

With open arms the stranger hail ; 
Their views enlarged, their lib'ral mind 

Above the narrow, rural vale ; 
Attentive still to sorrow's wail, 

Or modest merit's silent claim ; 
And never may their sources fail ! 

And never envy blot their name. 

Thy daughters bright thy walks adorn ! 

Gay as the gilded summer sky, 
Sweet as the dewy milk-white thorn, 

Dear as the raptured thrill of joy ! 
Fair Burnet strikes th' adoring eye, 

Heav'n's beauties on my fancy shine 



ADDRESS TO EDINBURGH. 45 

I see the Sire of Love on high, 
And own his work indeed divine ! 

There, watching high the least alarms, 

Thy rough, rude fortress gleams afar ; 
Like some bold vet'ran, grey in arms, 

And mark'd with many a seamy scar : 
The pond'rous wall and massy bar, 

Grim-rising o'er the rugged rock, 
Have oft withstood assailing war, 

And oft repell'd the invader's shock. 

With awe-struck thought, and pitying tears, 

I view that noble, stately dome, 
Where Scotia's kings of other years, 

Famed heroes ! had their royal home : 
Alas ! how changed the times to come ! 

Their royal name low in the dust ! 
Their hapless race wide-wand'ring roam ! 

Though rigid Law cries out, 'twas just ! 

Wild beats my heart to trace your steps, 

Whose ancestors, in days of yore, 
Through hostile ranks and ruin'd gaps 

Old Scotia's bloody lion bore : 
Ev'n I who sing in rustic lore, 

Haply my sires have left their shed, 
And faced grim danger's loudest roar, 

Bold-following where your fathers led ! 

Edina ! Scotia's darling seat ! 

All hail thy palaces and tow'rs, 
Where once beneath a monarch's feet 

Sat legislation's sov'reign pow'rs ! 
From marking wildly-scatter'd flow'rs, 

As on the banks of Ayr I stray'd, 
And singing, lone, the ling'ring hours, 

I shelter in thy honour'd shade. 




ON THE LATE CAPTAIN GROSE'S PEREGRINATIONS 
THROUGH SCOTLAND, 

COLLECTING THE ANTIQUITIES OF THAT KINGDOM. 



Hear, Land o' Cakes, and brither Scots, 
Frae Maidenkirk to Johnny Groats ; 
If there's a hole in a' your coats, 

I rede you tent it : 



CAPTAIN GROSES PEREGRINATIONS. 47 

A chield's amang you, taking notes, 

And faith, he'll prent it ! 

If in your bounds ye chance to light 
Upon a fine, fat, fodgel wight, 
O' stature short, but genius bright, 

That's he, mark weel— 
And wow ! he has an unco sleight 

O' cauk and keel. 

By some auld, howlet-haunted biggin', 

Or kirk deserted by its riggin', 

It's ten to ane ye '11 find him snug in 

Some eldritch part, 
Wi' deils, they say, Lord save's! colleaguirT 

At some black art. 

It's tauld he was a sodger bred, 
And ane wad rather fa'n than fled , 
But now he's quat the spurtle-blade, 

And dog-skin wallet, 
And ta'en the — Antiquarian trade, 

I think they call it. 

He has a fouth o' auld nick-nackets : 
Rusty aim caps and jinglin' jackets, 
Wad haud the Lothians three in tackets 

A towmont gude ; 
And parritch-pats, and auld saut-backets, 

Before the Flood. 

Forbye, he '11 shape you aff, fu' gleg, 
The cut of Adam's philibeg ; 
The knife that nicket Abel's craig 

He'll prove you fully, 
It was a faulding jocteleg, 

Or lang-kail gullie. 



48 



captain grose's peregrinations. 



But wad ye see him in his glee, 
For meikle glee and fun has he, 
Then set him down, and twa or three 

Guid fellows wi' him ; 
And port, O port ! shine thou a wee, 

And then ye '11 see him ! 

Now, by the pow'rs o' verse and prose ! 
Thou art a dainty chield, O Grose ! 
Whae'er o' thee shall ill suppose, 

They sair misca' thee ; 
I'd take the rascal by the nose 

Wad say, Shame fa' thee. 




49 



WRITTEN WITH A PENCIL, 

OVER THE CHIMNEY-PIECE IN THE PARLOUR OF THE INN AT 
KENMURE, TAYMOUTH. 

Admiring Nature in her wildest grace, 

These northern scenes with weary feet I trace ; 

O'er many a winding dale and painful steep, 

Th' abodes of covey'd grouse and timid sheep, 

My savage journey, curious, I pursue, 

Till fam'd Breadalbane opens to my view. — 

The meeting cliffs each deep-sunk glen divides, 

The woods, wild scatter'd, clothe their ample sides ; 

Th' outstretching lake, embosom'd 'mong the hills, 

The eye with wonder and amazement fills ; 

The Tay, meandering sweet in infant pride, 

The palace rising on its verdant side ; 

The lawns wood-fringed in Nature's native taste ; 

The hillocks dropt in Nature's careless haste ; 

The arches striding o'er the new-born stream ; 

The village glittering in the noontide beam — 

Poetic ardours in my bosom swell, 

Lone wandering by the hermit's mossy cell : 

The sweeping theatre of hanging woods ; 

Th' incessant roar of headlong tumbling floods — 

****** -> * 
Here Poesy might wake her heaven-taught lyre ; 
And look through Nature with creative fire ; 
Here, to the wrongs of fate half-reconciled, 
Misfortune's lighten'd steps might wander wild ; 
And Disappointment, in these lonely bounds, 
Find balm to soothe her bitter rankling wounds : 
Here heart-struck Grief might heav'nward stretch her scan, 
And injured Worth forget and pardon man. 



WRITTEN IN FRIARS-CARSE HERMITAGE, 



ON NITH-SIDE. 



Thou whom chance may hither lead, 
Be thou clad in russet weed, 
Be thou deck'd in silken stole, 
Grave these counsels on thy soul. 

Life is but a day at most, 
Sprung from night, in darkness lost ; 
Hope not sunshine ev'ry hour, 
Fear not clouds will always lower. 

As youth and love, with sprightly dance, 
Beneath thy morning star advance, 
Pleasure with her siren air 
May delude the thoughtless pair ; 
Let prudence bless enjoyment's cup, 
Then raptur'd sip, and sip it up. 

As thy day grows warm and high, 
Life's meridian flaming nigh, 
Dost thou spurn the humble vale ? 
Life's proud summits wouldst thou scale ? 
Check thy climbing step elate, 
Evils lurk in felon wait : 
Dangers, eagle-pinion'd, bold, 
Soar around each cliffy hold, 
While cheerful peace, with linnet song, 
Chants the lowly dells among. 

As the shades of ev'ning close, 
Beck'ning thee to long repose ; 
As life itself becomes disease, 
Seek the chimney-nook of ease, 
There ruminate with sober thought, 
On all thou'st seen, and heard, and wrought ; 



WRITTEN IN FRIARS-CARSE HERMITAGE. 

And teach the sportive younkers round, 
Saws of experience, sage and sound. 
Say, man's true genuine estimate, 
The grand criterion of his fate, 
Is not, art thou high or low 1 
Did thy fortune ebb or flow 1 
Did many talents gild thy span ? 
Or frugal nature grudge thee one 1 
Tell them, and press it on their mind, 
As thou thyself must shortly find, 
The smile or frown of awful Heaven, 
To virtue or to vice is giv'n. 
Say, to be just, and kind, and wise, 
There solid self-enjoyment lies ; 
That foolish, selfish, faithless ways, 
Lead to the wretched, vile, and base. 

Thus resign'd and quiet, creep 
To the bed of lasting sleep ; 
Sleep, whence thou shalt ne'er awake, 
Night, where dawn shall never break, 
Till future life, future no more, 
To light and joy the good restore, 
To light and joy unknown before. 

Stranger, go ! Heav'n be thy guide ! 
Quod the Beadsman of Nith-side. 




52 



ON SEEING A WOUNDED HARE LIMP BY ME, 

WHICH A FELLOW HAD JUST SHOT AT. 

Inhuman man ! curse on thy barb'rous art, 
And blasted be thy murder-aiming eye : 
May never pity soothe thee with a sigh, 

Nor ever pleasure glad thy cruel heart ! 

Go live, poor wanderer of the wood and field, 
The bitter little of that life remains : 
No more the thickening brakes and verdant plains 

To thee shall home, or food, or pastime yield. 

Seek, mangled wretch, some place of wonted rest, 
No more of rest, but now thy dying bed ! 
The sheltering rushes whistling o'er thy head, 

The cold earth with thy bloody bosom prest. 

Oft as by winding Nith, I, musing, wait 
The sober eve, or hail the cheerful dawn, 
I'll miss thee sporting o'er the dewy lawn, 

And curse the ruffian's aim, and mourn thy hapless fate 




,J**£^ 




ON SCARING SOME WATER-FOWL 

IN LOCH-TURIT, A WILD SCENE AMONG THE HILLS OF OUGHTERTYRE. 

Why, ye tenants of the lake, 
For me your wat'ry haunt forsake ? 
Tell me, fellow-creatures, why 
At my presence thus you fly ? 



ON SCARING SOME WATER-FOWL. 

Why disturb your social joys, 
Parent, filial, kindred ties ? — 
Common friend to you and me, 
Nature's gifts to all are free : 
Peaceful keep your dimpling wave, 
Busy feed, or wanton lave ; 
Or, beneath the sheltering rock, 
Bide the surging billow's shock. 

Conscious, blushing for our race, 
Soon, too soon, your fears I trace. 
Man, your proud usurping foe, 
Would be lord of all below : 
Plumes himself in Freedom's pride, 
Tyrant stern to all beside. 

The eagle, from the cliffy brow, 
Marking you his prey below, 
In his breast no pity dwells, 
Strong necessity compels ; 
But Man, to whom alone is giv'n 
A ray direct from pitying Heav'n, 
Glories in his heart humane — 
And creatures for his pleasure slain ! 

In these savage liquid plains, 
Only known to wand'ring swains, 
Where the mossy riv'let strays, 
Far from human haunts and ways ; 
All on Nature you depend, 
And life's poor season peaceful spend. 

Or, if man's superior might, 
Dare invade your native right, 
On the lofty ether borne, 
Man with all his pow'rs you scorn; 



ON SCARING SOME WATER-FOWL. 

Swiftly seek, on clanging wings, 
Other lakes and other springs ; 
And the foe you cannot brave, 
Scorn at least to be his slave. 




TO MISS LOGAN, 

WITH REATTIE'S POEMS, AS A NEW-YEAR'S GIFT, 

Jan. i, 1787. 

Again the silent wheels of time 
Their annual round have driv'n, 

And you, tho' scarce in maiden prime, 
Are so much nearer heav'n. 

No gifts have I from Indian coasts 

The infant year to hail ; 
I send you more than India boasts, 

In Edwin's simple tale. 

Our sex with guile and faithless love 
Is charged, perhaps too true; 

But may, dear maid, each lover prove 
An Edwin still to you ! 



r,6 



HALLOWE'EN. 1 

Yes ! let the rich deride, the proud disdain, 

The simple pleasures of the lowly train ; 

To me more dear, congenial to my heart, 

One native charm, than all the gloss of art.— Goldsmith. 

The following Poem will, by many readers, be well enough under- 
stood ; but for the sake of those who are unacquainted with the manners 
and traditions of the country where the scene is cast, notes are added, 
to give some account of the principal charms and spells of that night, 
so big with prophecy to the peasantry in the west of Scotland. The 
passion of prying into futurity makes a striking part of the history of 
human nature in its rude state, in all ages and nations : and it may be 
some entertainment to a philosophic mind, if any such should honour 
the author with a perusal, to see the remains of it among the more 
unenlightened in our own. 

Upon that night, when fairies light 

On Cassilis Downans 2 dance, 
Or owre the lays, in splendid blaze, 

On sprightly coursers prance : 
Or for Colean the route is ta'en, 

Beneath the moon's pale beams ; 
There up the Cove 3 to stray and rove, 

Amang the rocks and streams 

To sport that night. 

Amang the bonny winding banks, 

Where Doon rins wimplin clear, 
Where Bruce 4 ance ruled the martial ranks, 

And shook his Carrick spear, 
Some merry, friendly countra folks 

Together did convene, 
To burn their nits, and pu' their stocks, 

And haud their Hallowe'en 

Fu' blithe that night. 

The lasses feat, an' cleanly neat, 
Mair braw than when they 're fine ; 



HALLOWEEN. 57 

Their faces blithe, fu' sweetly kythe, 

Hearts leal and warm, and kin' : 
The lads sae trig, wi' wooer-babs, 

Weel knotted on their garten, 
Some unco blate, and some wi' gabs 

Gar lasses' hearts gang startin', 

Whyles fast at night. 

Then first and foremost, thro' the kail, 

Their stocks 5 maun a' be sought ance ; 
They steek their een, and graip and wail 

For muckle anes, and straught anes. 
Poor hav'rel Will fell aff the drift, 

And wander'd thro' the bow-kail, 
And pu'd, for want o' better shift, 

A runt was like a sow-tail, 

Sae bow't that night. 

Then, straught or crooked, yird or nane, 

They roar and cry a' throu'ther ; 
The vera wee things, todlin,' rin 

Wi' stocks out-owre their shouther ; 
And gif the custocs sweet or sour, 

Wi' joctelegs they taste them ; 
Syne cozily, aboon the door, 

Wi' cannie care they've placed them 
To lie that night. 

The lasses staw frae 'mang them a', 

To pu' their stalks o' corn • 6 
But Rab slips out, and jinks about 

Behint the muckle thorn : 
He grippet Nelly hard and fast ; 

Loud skirled a' the lasses ; 
But her tap-pickle maist was lost, 

When kiutlin i' the fause-house 7 
Wi' him that night, 
i 



HALLOWE EN. 

The auld gudewife's weel-hoardit nits 
Are round and round divided, 

And monie lads' and lasses' fates 
Are there that night decided i 




Some kindle, couthie, side by side, 
And burn thegither trimly ; 

Some start awa' wi' saucy pride, 
And jump out-owre the chimlie 
Fu' high that night. 



HALLOWEEN. 59 

Jean slips in twa, \vi' tentie e'e ; 

Wha 't was, she wadha tell ; 
But this is Jock, and this is me, 

She says in to herseP: 
He bleezed owre her, and she owre him, 

As they wad never mair part ; 
Till fuff ! he started up the lum, 

And Jean had e'en a sair heart, 
To see't that night. 

Poor Willie, wi' his bow-kail runt, 

Was brunt wi' primsie Mallie ; 
And Mallie, nae doubt, took the drunt, 

To be compared to Willie ; 
Mall's nit lap out wi' pridefu' fling, 

And her ain fit it brunt it ; 
While Willie lap, and swoor by jing, 

'Twas just the way he wanted 
To be that night 

Nell had the fause-house in hermin', 

She pits hersel' and Rab in ; 
In loving bleeze they sweetly join, 

Till white in ase they 're sabbin : 
Nell's heart was dancin' at the view ; 

She whisper'd Rab to leuk for 't : 
Rab, stowlins^prie'd her bonny mou', 

Fu' cozie in the neuk for't, 

Unseen that night. 

But Merran sat behint their backs, 

Her thoughts on Andrew Bell ; 
She lea'es them gashin' at their cracks. 

And slips out by hersel' : 
She thro' the yard the nearest tak's, 

And to the kiln she goes then, 



Go Hallowe'en. 

And darklins graipit for the bauks, 
And in the blue-clew 9 throws then, 
Right fear't that night. 

And ay she win't, and ay she swat ; 

I wat she made nae jaukin'; 
Till something held within the pat, 

Guid Lord ! but she was quakin' ! 
But whether 'twas the de'il himsel', 

Or whether 'twas a bauk-en', 
Or whether it was Andrew Bell, 

She didna wait on talkin' 

To spier that night. 

Wee Jenny to her Grannie says, 

" Will ye go wi' me, grannie 1 
I '11 eat the apple 10 at the glass 

I gat frae uncle Johnnie ; " 
She fuff't her pipe wi' sic a lunt, 

In wrath she was sae vap'rin', 
She noticed na, an aizle brunt 

Her braw new worset apron 

Out thro' that night. 

11 Ye little skelpie-limmer's face ! 
How daur you try sic sportin', 
As seek the foul Thief ony place, 

For him to spae your fortune % 
Nae doubt but ye may get a sight ! 

Great cause ye ha'e to fear it ; 
For monie a ane has gotten a fright, 
An' lived and died deleeret 
On sic a night. 

" Ae hairst afore the Sherra-Muir, 
I mind't as weel's yestreen, 



HALLOWE'EN. 6 1 

I was a gilpey then, I'm sure 

I was na past fyfteen : 
The simmer had been cauld and wat, 

And stuff was unco green ; 
And ay a rantin' kirn we gat, 

And just on Hallowe'en 

It fell that night. 

Our stibble-rig was Rab M'Graen, 

A clever sturdy fallow ; 
He's sin' gat Eppie Sim wi' wean, 

That lived in Achmacalla ; 
He gat hemp-seed, 11 I mind it weel, 

And he made unco light o't ; 
But monie a day was by himsel', 

He was sae sairly frighted 

That vera night." 

Then up gat fechtin' Jamie Fleck, 

And he swoor by his conscience, 
That he could saw hemp-seed a peck, 

For it was a' but nonsense : 
The auld gudeman raught down the pock, 

And out a handfu' gied him ; 
Syne bade him slip frae 'mang the folk, 

Some time when nae ane see'd him, 
And try't that night. 

He marches thro' amang the stacks, 

Tho' he was something sturtin ; 
The graip he for a harrow tak's, 

And haurls at his curpin : 
And ev'ry now and then, he says, 

" Hemp-seed, I saw thee, 
And her that is to be my lass, 

Come after me and draw thee, 
As fast this night." 



62 Hallowe'en. 

He whistled up Lord Lennox' March, 

To keep his courage cheery ; 
Altho' his hair began to arch, 

He was sae fley'd and eerie : 
Till presently he hears a squeak, 

And then a grane an' gruntle : 
He by his shouther gae a keek, 

And tumbled wi' a wintle 

Out-owre that night. 

He roar'd a horrid murder-shout, 

In dreadfu' desperation ! 
And young and auld cam' rinnin out, 

To hear the sad narration : 
He swoor 'twas hilchin' Jean M'Craw, 

Or crouchie Merran Humphie, 
Till stap ! she trotted thro' them a' ; 

And wha was it but Grumphie 
Asteer that night ! 

Meg fain wad to the barn ha'e gane, 

To win three wechts o' naething; 12 
But for to meet the de'il her lane, 

She pat but little faith in : 
She gi'es the herd a pickle nits, 

And twa red-cheekit apples, 
To watch, while for the barn she sets, 

In hopes to see Tam Kipples 
That very night. 

She turns the key wi' cannie thraw, 
An' owre the threshold ventures ; 

But first on Sawnie gies a ca', 
Syne bauldly in she enters : 

A ratton rattled up the wa', 

And she cried, Lord, preserve her ! 



HALLO WE EN. 



63 



wm 



1 



ill 




And ran thro' midden-hole and a', 

An' pray'd wi' zeal and fervour, 

Fu' fast that night. 

They hoy't out Will, wi' sair advice ; 

They hecht him some fine braw ane ! 
It chanced the stack he faddom'd thrice 13 

Was timmer propt for thrawin : 



64 Hallowe'en. 

He tak's a swerlie auld moss-oak 
For some black grewsome carlin ; 

And loot a winze, and drew a stroke, 
Till skin in blypes cam' haurlin 

Aff's nieves that night. 

A wanton widow Leezie was, 

As canty as a kittlen ; 
But, och ! that night, amang the shaws, 

She gat a fearfu' settlin' ! 
She thro' the whins, and by the cairn, 

And owre the hill gaed scrievin, 
Whare three lairds' lands met at a burn, u 

To dip her left sark-sleeve in, 

Was bent that night. 

Whyles owre a linn the burnie plays, 

As thro' the glen it wimpl't ; 
Whyles round a rocky scaur it stays, 

Whyles in a wiel it dimpl't ; 
Whyles glittered to the nightly rays, 

Wi' bickering, dancing dazzle ; 
Whyles joukit underneath the braes, 

Below the spreading hazel, 

Unseen that night. 

Amang the brechens, on the brae, 

Between her and the moon, 
The de'il, or else an outler quey, 

Gat up and gae a croon : 
Poor Leezie's heart maist lap the hool ; 

Near lav'rock-height she jumpit ; 
But missed a fit, and in the pool 

Out-owre the lugs she plumpit, 

Wi' a plunge that night. 



Hallowe'en. 65 

In order, on the clean hearth-stane, 

The luggies three 15 are ranged, 
And every time great care is ta'en 

To see them duly changed : 
Auld uncle John, wha wedlock's joys 

Sin' Mar's-year did desire, 
Because he gat the toom dish thrice, 

He heaved them on the fire, 

In wrath that night. 

Wi' merry sangs, an' friendly cracks, 

I wat they didna weary ; 
And unco tales, and funny jokes, 

Their sports were cheap and cheery : 
Till butter'd so'ns, 16 wi' fragrant lunt, 

Sets a' their gabs a-steerin' ; 
Syne, wi' a social glass o' strunt, 

They parted aff' careerin' 

Fu' blythe that night. 




66 



A VISION. 

As I stood by yon roofless tower, 

Where the wa'-flower scents the dewy air, 

Where the howlet mourns in her ivy bower, 
And tells the midnight moon her care ; 

The winds were laid, the air was still, 
The stars they shot alang the sky; 

The fox was howling on the hill, 
And the distant-echoing glens reply. 

The stream, adown its hazelly path, 

Was rushing by the ruin'd wa's, 
Hasting to join the sweeping Nith, 

Whose distant roaring swells and fa's. 

The cauld blue north was streaming forth 
Her lights, wi' hissing, eerie din ; 

Athort the lift they start and shift, 
Like fortune's favours, tint as win. 

By heedless chance I turn'd mine eyes, 
And by the moon-beam, shook, to see 

A stern and stalwart ghaist arise, 
Attired as minstrels wont to be. 

Had I a statue been o' stane, 

His darin' look had daunted me; 

And on his bonnet graved was plain, 
The sacred posy — " Libertie !" 

And frae his harp sic strains did flow, 

Might roused the slumbering dead to hear ; 

But oh, it was a tale of woe, 
As ever met a Briton's ear ! 



A VISION. 67 



He sang wi' joy the former day, 
He weeping wail'd his latter times ; 

But what he said it was nae play, 
I winna venture't in my rhymes. 




SONNET ON THE DEATH OF ROBERT RIDDEL, ESQ. 

April, 1794. 

No more, ye warblers of the wood, no more ! 
Nor pour your descant, grating, on my soul : 
Thou young-ey d Spring, gay in thy verdant stole, 

More welcome were to me grim Winter's wildest roar. 

How can ye charm, ye flow'rs, with all your dyes ? 
Ye blow upon the sod that wraps my friend : 
How can I to the tuneful strain attend % 

That strain flows round th' untimely tomb where Riddel lies. 

Yes, pour, ye warblers, pour the notes of woe, 
And soothe the Virtues weeping on this bier ; 
The Man of Worth, who has not left his peer, 

Is in his "narrow house" for ever darkly low. 

Thee, Spring, again with joy shall others greet ; 
Me, mem'ry of my loss will only meet. 



68 



SONNET, 

ON HEARING A THRUSH SING IN A MORNING WALK. 

Written on the 25th of January, 1793, the Birth-day of the Author. 

Sing on, sweet thrush, upon the leafless bough, 
Sing on, sweet bird, I listen to thy strain ! 
See aged Winter, 'mid his surly reign, 

At thy blithe carol clears his furrowed brow. 

So, in lone Poverty's dominion drear, 

Sits meek Content, with light, unanxious heart, 
Welcomes the rapid moments — bids them part, 

Nor asks if they bring aught to hope or fear. 

I thank thee, Author of this opening day ! 

Thou whose bright sun now gilds yon orient skies ! 

Riches denied, thy boon was purer joys, 
What wealth could never give nor take away ! 

Yet come, thou child of poverty and care ! 
The mite high Heaven bestowed, that mite with thee 
I'll share. 





TO A MOUNTAIN DAISY, 

ON TURNING ONE DOWN WITH THE PLOUGH, IN APRIL. 1 786. 

Wee, modest, crimson-tipped flow'r, 
Thou's met me in an evil hour; 
For I maun crush amang the stoure 
Thy slender stem ; 



70 TO A MOUNTAIN DAISY. 

To spare thee now is past my pow'r, 
Thou bonnie gem ! 

Alas ! it 's no thy neebor sweet, 
The bonnie Lark, companion meet ! 
Bending thee 'mang the dewy weet, 

Wi' spreckled breast, 
When upward-springing, blythe to greet 

The purpling east. 

Cauld blew the bitter-biting north 
Upon thy early, humble birth ; 
Yet cheerfully thou glinted forth 

Amid the storm, 
Scarce rear'd above the parent earth 

Thy tender form. 

The flaunting flow'rs our gardens yield, 

High shelt'ring woods and wa 's maun shield ; 

But thou, beneath the random bield 

O' clod or stane, 
Adorns the histie stibble-field, 

Unseen, alane. 

There, in thy scanty mantle clad, 
Thy snawy bosom sun-ward spread, 
Thou lifts thy unassuming head 

In humble guise : 
But now the share uptears thy bed, 
„ And low thou lies ! 

Such is the fate of artless Maid, 
Sweet flow'ret of the rural shade, 
By love's simplicity betray'd, 

And guileless trust, 
Till she, like thee, all soil'd, is laid 

Low i' the dust. 



TO A MOUNTAIN DAISY. 7 1 

Such is the fate of simple Bard, 

On life's rough ocean luckless starr'd ! 

Unskilful he to note the card 

Of prudent lore, 
Till billows rage, and gales blow hard, 

And whelm him o'er ! 

Such fate to suffering worth is given, 

Who long with wants and woes has striven, 

By human pride or cunning driven, 

To mis'ry's brink, 
Till wrench'd of ev'ry stay but Heaven, 

He, ruin'd, sink ! 

Ev'n thou who mourn'st the daisy's fate, 
That fate is thine — no distant date ; 
Stern Ruin's ploughshare drives, elate, 

Full on thy bloom, 
Till crush'd beneath the furrow's weight, 

Shall be thy doom ! 




72 



TAM O' SHANTER, 



A TALE. 

Of Brownyis and of Bogilis full is this Buke. — Gawin Douglas. 

When chapman billies leave the street, 
And drouthy neebors, neebors meet, 
As market-days are wearin' late, 
And folk begin to tak' the gate ; 
While we sit bousin' at the nappy, 
And getting fou and unco happy, 
We think na on the lang Scots miles, 
The mosses, waters, slaps, and stiles, 
That lie between us and our hame, 
Whare sits our sulky sullen dame, 
Gatherin' her brows like gatherin' storm, 
Nursin' her wrath to keep it warm. 

This truth fand honest Tarn o' Shanter, 
As he frae Ayr ae night did canter, 
(Auld Ayr, wham ne'er a town surpasses 
For honest men and bonnie lasses.) 

O Tam ! hadst thou but been sae wise 
As ta'en thy ain wife Kate's advice ! 
She tauld thee weel thou wast a skellum, 
A blethering, blustering, drunken blellum ; 
That fray November till October, 
Ae market-day thou was na sober ; 



TAM O SHANTER. 73 

That ilka melder wi' the miller, 
Thou sat as long as thou had siller ; 
That every naig was ca'd a shoe on ; 
The smith and thee gat roarin' fou on, 
That at the Lord's house, ev'n on Sunday, 
Thou drank wi' Kirton Jean till Monday. 
She prophesied that, late or soon, 
Thou wad be found deep drown'd in Doon ; 
Or catch'd wi' warlocks in the mirk, 
By Alloway's auld haunted kirk. 

Ah, gentle dames ! it gars me greet 
To think how mony counsels sweet, 
How mony lengthen'd sage advices, 
The husband frae the wife despises ! 

But to our tale : — Ae market-night, 
Tam had got planted unco right ; 
Fast by an ingle bleezing finely, 
Wi' reaming swats that drank divinely, 
And at his elbow, Souter Johnny, 
His ancient, trusty, drouthy crony ; 
Tam lo'ed him like a vera brither ; 
They had been fou for weeks thegither. 

The night drave on wi' sangs and clatter, 
And aye, the ale was growin' better ; 
The landlady and Tam grew gracious, 
Wi' favours secret, sweet, and precious , 
The souter tauld his queerest stories ; 
The landlord's laugh was ready chorus ; 
The storm without might rair and rustle, 
Tam didna mind the storm a whistle. 

Care, mad to see a man sae happy, 
E'en drown'd himsel' amang the nappy ! 

L 



74 



TAM O SHANTER. 




As bees flee hame wi' lades o' treasure, 
The minutes wing'd their way wi' pleasure : 
Kings may be blest, but Tarn was glorious, 
O'er a' the ills o' life victorious ! 



But pleasures are like poppies spread — 
You seize the flower, its bloom is shed ; 



TAM O' SHANTER. 75 

Or like the snow-falls in the river, 

A moment white — then melts for ever ; 

Or like the borealis race, 

That flit ere you can point their place ; 

Or like the rainbow's lovely form 

Evanishing amid the storm. — 

Nae man can tether time or tide ; 

The hour approaches Tarn maun ride ; 

That hour, o' night's black arch the key-stane, 

That dreary hour he mounts his beast in ; 

An' sic a night he tak's the road in, 

As ne'er poor sinner was abroad in. 

The wind blew as 'twad blawn its last; 
The rattling show'rs rose on the blast ; 
The speedy gleams the darkness swallow'd ; 
Loud, deep, and lang the thunder bellow'd : 
That night a child might understand, 
The de'il had business on his hand. 

Weel mounted on his grey mare, Meg— 
A better never lifted leg — 
Tarn skelpit on thro' dub and mire, 
Despising wind, and rain, and fire ; 
Whiles hauding fast his gude blue bonnet; 
Whiles crooning o'er some auld Scot's sonnet ; 
Whiles glow'ring round wi' prudent cares, 
Lest bogles catch him unawares ; 
Kirk- Alio way was drawing nigh, 
Whare ghaists and howlets nightly cry. 

By this time he was 'cross the ford, 
Whare in the snaw the chapman smoor'd ; 
And past the birks and meikle stane, 
Whare drunken Charlie brak 's neck-bane ; 
And thro' the whins, and by the cairn, 
Whare hunters fand the murder'd bairn; 



76 TAM O' SHANTER. 

And near the thorn, aboon the well, 
Whare Mungo's mither hang'd hersel.' — 
Before him Doon pours all his floods ; 
The doubling storm roars through the woods ; 
The lightning's flash from pole to pole, 
Near and more near the thunders roll ; 
When, glimmering thro' the groaning trees, 
Kirk-Alloway seem'd in a bleeze ; 
Thro' ilka bore the beams were glancing ; 
And loud resounded mirth and dancing. 

Inspiring bold John Barleycorn ! 
What dangers thou canst make us scorn ! 
Wi' tippenny we fear nae evil, 
Wi' usquebaugh we'll face the devil ! — 
The swats sae ream'd in Tammie's noddle, 
Fair play, he cared na de'ils a boddle. 
But Maggie stood right sair astonish'd, 
Till, by the heel and hand admonish'd, 
She ventured forward on the light ; 
And, wow ! Tarn saw an unco sight ! 
Warlocks and witches in a dance ; 
Nae cotillion brent-new frae France, 
But hornpipes, jigs, strathspeys, and reels, 
Put life and mettle in their heels. 
A winnock-bunker in the east, 
There sat auld Nick in shape o' beast ; 
A towzie tyke, black, grim, and large, 
To gi'e them music was his charge : 
He screw'd the pipes .and gar't them skirl; 
Till roof and rafters a' did dirl ! — 
Coffins stood round like open presses, 
That shaw'd the dead in their last dresses ; 
And by some devilish cantrip sleight, 
Each in its cauld hand held a light ; 
By which heroic Tarn was able 
To note upon the haly table, 



TAM O SHANTER. 



77 







A murderer's banes in gibbet-airns ; 
Twa span-lang, wee, unchristen'd bairns 
A thief, new-cutted frae a rape ; 
Wi' his last gasp his gab did gape ; 
Five tomahawks, wi' blude red-rusted ; 
Five scimitars, wi' murder crusted ; 
A garter, which a babe had strangled ; 
A knife, a father's throat had mangled, 



78 TAM O' SHANTER. 

Whom his ain son o' life bereft, 
The grey hairs yet stack to the heft ; 
Three lawyers' tongues turn'd inside out, 
Wi' lies seam'd like a beggar's clout ; 
And priests' hearts, rotten black as muck, 
Lay stinkin', vile, in ev'ry neuk : 
Wi' mair o' horrible and awfu', 
Which ev'n to name wad be unlawfu'. 

As Tammie glowr'd, amazed and curious, 
The mirth and fun grew fast and furious : 
The piper loud and louder blew ; 
The dancers quick and quicker flew ; 
They reel'd, they sat, they cross'd, they cleekit, 
Till ilka carline swat and reekit, 
And coost her duddies to the wark, 
And linket at it in her sark ! 

Now Tam, O Tarn ! had thae been queans, 
A' plump and strappin' in their teens ; 
Their sarks, instead o' creeshie flannen, 
Been snaw-white se'enteen-hunder linen ! 
Thir breeks o' mine, my only pair, 
That ance were plush o' gude blue hair, 
I wad ha'e gi'en them aff my hurdies, 
For ae blink o' the bonnie burdies ! 
But wither'd beldams, auld and droll, 
Rigwoodie hags wad speen a foal, 
Louping and flinging on a cummock, 
I wonder didna turn thy stomach. 

But Tam kenn'd what was what fu' brawn e, 
There was ae winsome wench and walie, 
That night enlisted in the corps, 
(Lang after kenn'd on Carrick shore ! 
For mony a beast to dead she shot, 
And perish'd mony a bonnie boat, 



TAM O SHANTER. 79 

And shook baith muckle corn and bear, 
And kept the country-side in fear ;) 
Her cutty-sark, o' Paisley harn, 
That while a lassie she had worn, 
In longitude tho' sorely scanty, 
It was her best, and she was vauntie. — 
Ah ! little kenn'd thy reverend grannie, 
That sark she coft for her wee Nannie, 
Wi' twa pund Scots ('twas a' her riches), 
Wad ever graced a dance of witches ! 

But here my Muse her wing maun cower, 
Sic flights are far beyond her power ; 
To sing how Nannie lap and flang, 
(A souple jade she was and Strang,) 
And how Tam stood, like ane bewitch'd, 
And thought his very een enrich'd ; 
Even Satan glowr'd and fidg'd fu' fain, 
And hotch'd and blew wi' might and main ; 
Till first ae caper, syne anither, 
Tam tint his reason a' thegither, 
And roars out, " Weel done, Cutty-sark ! " 
And in an instant all was dark : 
And scarcely had he Maggie rallied, 
When out the hellish legion sallied. 

As bees bizz out wi' angry fyke, 
When plundering herds assail their byke; 
As open pussie's mortal foes, 
When, pop ! she starts before their nose ; 
As eager runs the market-crowd, 
When "Catch the thief!" resounds aloud; 
So Maggie runs, the witches follow, 
Wi' mony an eldritch screech and hollow. 

Ah, Tam ! ah, Tam ! thou 'It get thy fairin' ! 
In hell they '11 roast thee like a herrin' ! 



8o 



TAM O SHANTER. 



In vain thy Kate awaits thy comin' 
Kate soon will be a woefu' woman 
Now, do thy speedy utmost, Meg, 




And win the key-stane of the brig; 
There at them thou thy tail may toss, 
A running stream they darena cross. 



TAM O' SHANTER. 8l 

But ere the key-stane she could make, 
The fient a tail she had to shake ! 
For Nannie, far before the rest, 
Hard upon noble Maggie prest, 
And flew at Tarn wi' furious ettle ; 
But little wist she Maggie's mettle — 
Ae spring brought off her master hale, 
B.ut left behind her ain grey tail : 
The carline claught her by the rump, 
And left poor Maggie scarce a stump. 

Now, wha this tale o' truth shall read, 
Ilk man and mother's son take heed : 
Whene'er to drink you are inclined, 
Or cutty sarks run in your mind, 
Think, ye may buy the joys owre dear, 
Remember Tarn o' Shanter's mare. 




82 



ANSWER TO A MANDATE 

SENT BY THE SURVEYOR OF TAXES. 

Sir, as your mandate did request, 
I send you here a faithfu' list, 
O' gudes an' gear, an' a' my graith, 
To which I'm free to tak' my aith. 

Imprimis, then, for carriage cattle, — 
I ha'e four brutes o' gallant mettle, 
As ever drew afore a pettle ; 
My land-afore, a guid auld has-been, 
And wight and wilfu' a' his days been ; 
My land-ahin 's a weel-gaun filly, 
Wha aft has borne me safe frae Killie, 
And your auld borough mony a time, 
In days when riding was nae crime : 
But ance when in my wooing pride 
I like a blockhead boost to ride, 
The wilfu' creature sae I pat to, 
(Lord, pardon a' my sins an' that too !) 
I play'd my filly sic a shavie, 
She's a' bedevil'd wi' the spavie. 
My fur-ahin', a wordy beast, 
As e'er in tug or tow was traced : 
The fourth, a Highland Donald hasty, 

A d d red-wud Kilburnie blastie, 

Foreby a cowte, of cowtes the wale, 
As ever ran afore a tail ; 
An' he be spared to be a beast, 
He'll draw me fifteen pund at least. 
Wheel carriages I ha'e but few : 
Three carts, and twa are feckly new ; 
An auld wheelbarrow, mair for token, 
Ae leg and baith the trams are broken ; 



ANSWER TO A MANDATE. 83 

I made a poker o' the spindle, 

And my auld mither brunt the trundle. 

For men, I've three mischievous boys, 
Run-de'ils for rantin' and for noise ; 
A gaudsman ane, a thresher t'other, 
Wee Davoc hauds the nowte in fother. 
I rule them, as I ought, discreetly, 
And aften labour them completely ; 
And aye on Sundays duly nightly, 
I on the Questions tairge them tightly, 
Till, faith ! wee Davoc's grown sae gleg, 
(Tho' scarcely langer than my leg,) 
He'll screed you aff Effectual Calling 
As fast as ony in the dwalling. 

I've nane in female servan' station, 
Lord keep me aye frae a' temptation ! 
I ha'e nae wife, and that my bliss is, 
And ye ha'e laid nae tax on misses ; 
Wi' weans I'm mair than weel contented, 
Heaven sent me ane mair than I wanted ; 
My sonsie, smirking, dear-bought Bess, 
She stares the daddie in her face, 
Eneugh of aught ye like but grace. 
But her, my bonny, sweet, wee lady, 
I've paid enough for her already; 
And if ye tax her or her mither, 
B' the Lord, ye'se get them a' thegither ! 

And now, remember, Mr. Aiken, 
Nae kind of licence out I'm takin' ; 
Frae this time forth, I do declare, 
I'se ne'er ride horse nor hizzie mair; 
Thro' dirt and dub for life I'll paidle, 
Ere I sae dear pay for a saddle ; 
I've sturdy stumps, the Lord be thankit ! 



84 ANSWER TO A MANDATE. 

And a' my gates on foot I'll shank it. 
The Kirk an' you may tak' you that, 
It puts but little in your pat ; 
Sae dinna scrieve me in your buke, 
Nor for my ten white shillings luke. 

This list wi' my ain hand I've wrote it, 
The day and date as under noted ; 
Then know all ye whom it concerns, 
Subscripsi huic, 

Robert Burns. 

Mossgiel, Feb. 2 2d ; 1789. 




MAN WAS MADE TO MOURN. 



When chill November's surly blast 

Made fields and forests bare, 
One evening, as I wander'd forth 

Along the banks of Ayr, 
I spied a man, whose aged step 

Seem'd weary, worn with care ; 
His face was furrow'd o'er with years, 

And hoary was his hair. 



MAN WAS MADE TO MOURN. 85 

Young stranger, whither wanderest thou ? 

(Began the reverend sage :) 
Does thirst of wealth thy step constrain, 

Or youthful pleasure's rage ! 
Or, haply, press'd with cares and woes, 

Too soon thou hast began 
To wander forth, with me, to mourn 

The miseries of man ! 



The sun that overhangs yon moors, 

Outspreading far and wide, 
Where hundreds labour to support 

A haughty lordling's pride ; 
I 've seen yon weary winter sun 

Twice forty times return ; 
And every time has added proofs, 

That man was made to mourn. 



O man ! while in thy early years, 

How prodigal of time! 
Mis-spending all thy precious hours, 

Thy glorious youthful prime ! 
Alternate follies take the sway : 

Licentious passions burn ; 
Which tenfold force gives Nature's law, 

That man was made to mourn. 



Look not alone on youthful prime, 

Or manhood's active might ; 
Man then is useful to his kind, 

Supported is his right : 
But see him on the edge of life, 

With cares and sorrows worn, 
Then age and want, oh ! ill-match' d pair ! 

Show man was made to mourn. 



86 MAN WAS MADE TO MOURN. 

A few seem favourites of fate, 

In pleasure's lap carest ; 
Yet think not all the rich and great 

Are likewise truly blest. 
But, oh ! what crowds in every land 

Are wretched and forlorn ! 
Through weary life this lesson learn, 

That man was made to mourn. 



Many and sharp the numerous ills 

Inwoven with our frame ! 
More pointed still we make ourselves, 

Regret, remorse and shame ! 
And man, whose heaven-erected face 

The smiles of love adorn, 
Mans inhumanity to man 

Makes countless thousands mourn. 



See yonder poor, o'erlabour'd wight, 

So abject, mean, and vile, 
Who begs a brother of the earth 

To give him leave to toil ; 
And see his lordly fellow-worm 

The poor petition spurn, 
Unmindful, though a weeping wife, 

And helpless offspring, mourn. 

If I 'm design'd yon lordling's slave- 
By Nature's law design'd — 

Why was an independent wish 
E'er planted in my mind 1 

If not, why am I subject to 
His cruelty or scorn 1 

Or why has man the will and pow'r 
To make his fellow mourn ? 



MAN WAS MADE TO MOURN. 



87 



Yet let not this too much, my son, 
Disturb thy youthful breast : 

This partial view of human kind 
Is surely not the last ! 




The poor, oppressed, honest man, 
Had never, sure, been born, 

Had there not been some recompense 
To comfort those that mourn. 



88 MAN WAS MADE TO MOURN. 

O Death ! the poor man's dearest friend, 

The kindest and the best ! 
Welcome the hour my aged limbs 

Are laid with thee at rest. 
The great, the wealthy, fear thy blow, 

From pomp and pleasure torn ! 
But, oh ! a blest relief to those 

That weary-laden mourn ! 



"%5^ 



DELIA. 

Fair the face of orient day, 
Fair the tints of op'ning rose ; 

But fairer still my Delia dawns, 
More lovely far her beauty blows. 

Sweet the lark's wild warbled lay, 
Sweet the tinkling rill to hear ; 

But, Delia, more delightful still, 
Steal thine accents on mine ear. 

The flower-enamour'd busy bee 
The rosy banquet loves to sip ; 

Sweet the streamlet's limpid lapse • 
To the sun-brown'd Arab's lip ; 

But, Delia, on thy balmy lips 
Let me, no vagrant insect, rove ! 

O let me steal one liquid kiss, 

For oh ! my soul is parch'd with love ! 



8 9 



LINES 

ADDRESSED TO MR. MITCHELL; COLLECTOR OF EXCISE, DUMFRIES, 1 796. 

Friend of the Poet, tried and leal, 
Wha, wantin' thee, might beg or stear; 
Alake, alake ! the meikle de'il, 

Wi' a' his witches, 
Are at it, skelpin, jig and reel, 

In my poor pouches. 

I modestly fu' fain wad hint it, 
That one-pund-one, I sairly want it : 
If wi' the hizzie down ye sent it, 

It would be kind ; 
And, while my heart wi' life-blood dunted, 

I'd bear 't in mind. 

So may the auld year gang out moaning 
To see the new come laden, groaning, 
Wi' double plenty o'er the loanin' 

To thee and thine — 
Domestic peace and comforts crowning 

The hale design. 

POSTSCRIPT. 

Ye've heard this while how I've been licket, 
And by fell Death was nearly nicket : 
Grim loun ! he gat me by the fecket, 

And sair me sheuk ; 
But by gude luck I lap a wicket, 

And turn'd a neuk. 

But by that health, I've got a share o't, 
And by that life, I'm promised mair o't, 

N 



go LINES ADDRESSED TO MR. MITCHELL. 

My hale and weel I'll take a care o*t 
A tentier way : 

Then farewell, folly, hide and hair o't, 
For ance and ay. 




A MOTHER'S LAMENT FOR THE DEATH OF 

HER SON. 



Fate gave the word, the arrow sped, 

And pierced my darling's heart : 
And with him all the joys are fled 

Life can to me impart. 
By cruel hands the sapling drops, 

In dust dishonour'd laid : 
So fell the pride of all my hopes, 

My age's future shade. 

The mother-linnet in the brake 

Bewails her ravish'd young ; 
So I, for my lost darling's sake, 

Lament the live-day long. 
Death, oft I've fear'd thy fatal blow,- 

Now, fond I bare my breast, 
O, do thou kindly lay me low 

With him I love, at rest ! 



9 I 



DEATH AND DR. HORNBOOK. 

A TRUE STORY. 

Some books are lies frae end to end, 
And some great lies were never penn'd ; 
Ev'n ministers, they ha'e been kenn'd, 

In holy rapture, 
A rousing whid at times to vend, 

And nail 't wi' Scripture. 

But this that I am gaun to tell, 
Which lately on a night befell, 
Is just as true's the Deil's in hell, 

Or Dublin city ; 
That e'er he nearer comes oursel' 

'S a muckle pity. 

The Clachan yill had made me canty, 

I was na fou, but just had plenty ; 

I stacher'd whyles, but yet took tent ay 

To free the ditches : 
And hillocks, stanes, and bushes, kenn'd ay 

Frae ghaists and witches. 

The rising moon began to glow'r 
The distant Cumnock hills out-owre : 
To count her horns wi' a' my pow'r 

I set mysel' ; 
But whether she had three or four, 

I cou'dna tell. 

I was come round about the hill, 
And toddlin' down on Willie's mill, 
Setting my staff, wi' a' my skill, 

To keep me sicker ; 



92 DEATH AND DR. HORNBOOK. 

Though leeward whyles against my will, 
I took a bicker. 

I there wi' Something did forgather, 
That put me in an eerie swither ; 
An awfu' scythe, out-owre ae shouther, 

Clear-dangling, hang ; 
A three-taed leister on the ither 

Lay, large and lang. 

Its stature seem'd lang Scotch ells twa, 
The queerest shape that e'er I saw, 
For fient a wame it had ava ! 

And then its shanks, 
They were as thin, as sharp, an' sma' 

As cheeks o' branks ! 

" Guid-een," quo' I ; " Friend ! ha'e ye been mawin, 
When ither folk are busy sawin?" 
It seem'd to mak' a kind o' staun, 

But naething spak' : 
At length says I, " Friend ! whare ye gaun 1 

Will ye gae back ?" 

It spak' right howe : — " My name is Death — 
But be na fley'd."— Quoth I, " Guid faith, 
Ye' re maybe come to stap my breath; 

But tent me, billie, 
I red ye weel, take care o' skaith, 

See, there's a gully !" 

" Guidman," quo' he, " put up your whittle, 
I'm no design'd to try its mettle; 
But if I did, I wad be kittle 

To be mislear'd, 
I wadna mind it, no that spittle 

Out-owre my beard.'' 



DEATH AND DR. HORNBOOK. 



93 




" Weel, weel," says I, " a bargain be 't ; 
Come, gie's your hand, and say we're gree't; 
We'll ease our shanks and tak' a seat, 

Come, gie's your news; 
This while ye ha'e been mony a gate, 

At mony a house." 



94 DEATH AND DR. HORNBOOK. 

" Ay, ay !" quo' he, and shook his head, 
" It's e'en a lang, lang time indeed 
Sin' I began to nick the thread, 

And choke the breath : 
Folk maun do something for their bread, 

And sae maun Death. 

" Sax thousand years are near-hand fled 
Sin' I was to the butching bred, 
And moiiy a scheme in vain's been laid 
To stap or scaur me ; 
Till ane Hornbook 's ta'en up the trade, 

And faith ! he'll waur me. 

" Ye ken Jock Hornbook i' the Clachan, 
De'il mak' his king's-hood in a spleuchan ! 
He 's grown sae weel acquaint wi' Buchan 

And ither chaps, 
The weans haud out their fingers laughin' 

And pouk my hips. 

" 'T was but yestreen, nae farther gane, 
I threw a noble throw at ane : 
Wi' less, I'm sure, I've hundreds slain ; 

But de'il-ma-care, 
It just play'd dirl on the bane, 

But did nae mair. 

" Hornbook was by, wi' ready art, 
And had sae fortified the part, 
That when I look'd to my dart, 

It was sae blunt, 
Fient haet o 't wad ha'e pierced the heart 

O' a kail-runt. 

" I drew my scythe in sic a fury, 
I near-hand cowpit wi' my hurry, . 



DEATH AND DR. HORNBOOK. 95 

But yet the bauld Apothecary 

Withstood the shock ; 

I might as weel ha'e tried a quarry 

O' hard whin-rock. 

" Ev'n them he carina get attended, 
Although their face he ne'er had kenn'd it, 

Just in a kail-blade, and send it ; 

As soon's he sine lis 't, 
Baith their disease, and what will mend it, 
At ance he tells 't, 

" And then, a' doctor's saws and whittles, 
Of a' dimensions, shapes, and metals, 
A' kinds o' boxes, mugs, and bottles, 

He's sure to ha'e : 
Their Latin names as fast he rattles 

As A, B, C. 

" Calces o' fossils, earths, and trees ; 
True sal-marinum o' the seas ; 
The farina o' beans and pease, 

He has 't in plenty ; 
Aqua-fontis, what you please, 

He can content ye. 

"Forbye some new uncommon weapons, 
Urinus spiritus o' capons : 
Or mite-horn shavings, filings, scrapings, 

Distill'd per sc ; 
Sal-alkali o' midge-tail clippings, 

And monie mae." 

"Wae's me for Johnny Ged's Hole now," 
Quoth I, " if that thae news be true ! 
His braw calf-ward, whare gowans grew 

Sae white and bonny, 



g6 DEATH AND DR. HORNBOOK. 

Nae doubt they'll rive it wi' the plew : 
They'll ruin Johnny 



The creature grain'd an eldritch laugh, 
And says, " Ye needna yoke the pleugh, 
Kirk-yards will soon be till'd eneugh, 

Tak' ye na fear ; 
They'll a' be trench'd wi' mony a sheugh, 

In twa-three year. 

" Where I kill'd ane a fair strae-death, 
By loss o' bluid, or want o' breath, 
This night I'm free to tak' my aith, 

That Hornbook's skill 
Has clad a score i' their last claith, 

By drap and pill. 

" An honest Wabster to his trade, 
Whase wife's twa nieves were scarce weel-bred, 
Gat tippence-worth to mend her head, 

When it was sair ; 
The wife slade cannie to her bed, 

But ne'er spak' mair. 

" A countra laird had ta'en the batts, 
Or some curmurring in his guts ; 
His only son for Hornbook sets, 

And pays him well : 
The lad, for twa guid gimmer-pets, 

Was laird himsel'. 

"That's just a swatch o' Hornbook's way; 
Thus goes he on from day to day, 
Thus does he poison, kill, an' slay, 

An's weel paid for't; 
Yet stops me o' my lawfu' prey, 

Wi' his damn'd dirt. 



DEATH AND DR. HORNBOOK. 97 

But, hark ! I'll tell you of a plot, 
Tho' dinna ye be speaking o't ; 
I'll nail the self-conceited sot 

As dead's a herrin' : 
Neist time we meet, I'll wad a groat, 

He gets his fairin' ! " 

But just as he began to tell, 

The auld kirk-hammer strak the bell 

Some wee short hour ayont the twal, 

Which raised us baith : 
I took the way that pleased mysel', 

And sae did Death. 



VERSES TO A YOUNG LADY, 

WITH A PRESENT OF SONGS. 

Here, where the Scottish Muse immortal lives, 
In sacred strains and tuneful numbers join'd, 

Accept the gift ; tho' humble he who gives, 
Rich is the tribute of the grateful mind. 

So may no ruffian-feeling in thy breast, 
Discordant jar thy bosom-chords among ! 

But Peace attune thy gentle soul to rest, 
Or Love, ecstatic, wake his seraph song ! 
o 



VERSES TO A YOUNG LADY, 

Or Pity's notes, in luxury of tears, 

As modest Want the tale of woe reveals ; 

While conscious Virtue all the strain endears, 
And heaven-born Piety her sanction seals ! 




TO A YOUNG LADY, 

MISS JESSY LEWARS, DUMFRIES ; WITH THE BOOKS WHICH THE 
BARD PRESENTED HER. 

Thine be the volumes, Jessy fair, 
And with them take the Poet's prayer— 
That fate may in her fairest page, 
With every kindliest, best presage 
Of future bliss, enrol thy name ; 
With native worth, and spotless fame, 
And wakeful caution still aware 
Of ill — but chief, man's felon snare : 
All blameless joys on earth we find, 
And all the treasures of the mind — 
These be thy guardian and reward : 
vSo prays thy faithful friend, the Bard. 




SONGS AND BALLADS 





Tune- 



SONG. 

/ had a horse, I had nae mair. " 



Now westlin' winds, and slaughtering guns 
Bring autumn's pleasant weather; 

The moorcock springs, on whirring wings, 
Amang the blooming heather : 



NOW WESTLIN WINDS. 10 : 

Now waving grain, wide o'er the plain, 

Delights the weary farmer ; 
And the moon shines bright, when I rove at night 

To muse upon my charmer. 

The partridge loves the fruitful fells ; 

The plover loves the mountains ; 
The woodcock haunts the lonely dells ; 

The soaring hern the fountains : 
Thro' lofty groves the cushat roves, 

The path of man to shun it ; 
The hazel bush o'erhangs the thrush, 

The spreading thorn the linnet. 

Thus ev'ry kind their pleasure find, 

The savage and the tender; 
Some social join, and leagues combine ; 

Some solitary wander : 
Avaunt, away ! the cruel sway, 

Tyrannic man's dominion ; 
The sportsman's joy, the murd'ring cry, 

The fluttering, gory pinion ! 

But Peggy dear, the ev'ning's clear, 

Thick flies the skimming swallow ; 
The sky is blue, the fields in view, 

All fading-green and yellow : 
Come let us stray our gladsome way, 

And view the charms of nature ; 
The rustling corn, the fruited thorn, 

And every happy creature. 

We'll gently walk, and sweetly talk, 

Till the silent moon shine clearly ; 
I'll grasp thy waist, and, fondly prest, 

Swear how I love thee dearly : 



102 NOW WESTLIN WINDS. 

Not vernal show'rs to budding flow'rs, 
Not autumn to the farmer, 

So dear can be as thou to me, 
My fair, my lovely charmer ! 



HANDSOME NELL. 

Tune — "lam a man unmarried." 

O, once I lov'd a bonnie lass, 

Ay, and I love her still, 
And whilst that honour warms my breast 

I'll love my handsome Nell. 

As bonnie lasses I ha'e seen 

And mony full as braw, 
But for a modest gracefu' mien 

The like I never saw. 

A bonnie lass, I will confess, 

Is pleasant to the e'e, 
But without some better qualities 

She's no a lass for me. 

But Nelly's looks are blithe and sweet ; 

And what is best of a', 
Her reputation is complete, 

And fair without a flaw. 

She dresses aye sae clean and neat, 

Both decent and genteel ; 
And then there's something in her gait 

Gars ony dress look weel. 



HANDSOME NELL. 1 03 

A gaudy dress and gentle air 

May slightly touch the heart, 
But it's innocence and modesty 

That polishes the dart. 

Tis this in Nelly pleases me, 

'Tis this enchants my soul ; 
For absolutely in my breast 

She reigns without control. 




BONNIE LESLEY. 

Tune — " The Collier 's bonnie Daughter.'" 

O saw ye bonnie Lesley, 

As she gaed o'er the Border ? 

She's gane, like Alexander, 

To spread her conquests farther 

To see her is to love her, 
And love but her for ever ; 

For Nature made her what she is, 
And ne'er made sic anither ! 

Thou art a queen, fair Lesley, 
Thy subjects we, before thee : 

Thou art divine, fair Lesley, 
The hearts o' men adore thee. 

The de'il he could na scaith thee, 
Or aught that wad belang thee ; 

He'd look into thy bonnie face, 
And say, " I canna wrang thee." 



104 BONNIE LESLEY. 

The Powers aboon will tent thee ; 

Misfortune sha'na steer thee ; 
Thou'rt like themselves sae lovely, 

That ill they'll ne'er let near thee. 

Return again, fair Lesley, 

Return to Caledonie ! 
That we may brag, we ha'e a lass 

There's nane again sae bonnie. 



TO MARY IN HEAVEN. 

Tune — " Miss Forbes 's Farewell to Banff.'" 

Thou lingering star, with less'ning ray, 

That lov'st to greet the early morn, 
Again thou usher'st in the day 

My Mary from my soul was torn. 
O Mary ! dear departed shade ! 

Where is thy place of blissful rest ? 
See'st thou thy lover lowly laid % 

Hear'st thou the groans that rend his breast 1 

That sacred hour can I forget 1 

Can I forget the hallow'd grove 
Where by the winding Ayr we met, 

To live one day of parting love 1 
Eternity will not efface 

Those records dear of transports past ; 
Thy image at our last embrace ; 

Ah ! little thought we 'twas our last ! 




Ayr gurgling kiss'd his pebbled shore, 

O'erhung with wild woods, thick'ning green ; 
The fragrant birch, and hawthorn hoar, 

Twin'd am'rous round the raptur'd scene, 
The flowers sprang wanton to be prest, 

The birds sang love on ev'ry spray, 
Till too, too soon, the glowing west 

Proclaim'd the speed of winged day. 



Jo6 TO MARY IN HEAVEN. 

Still o'er these scenes my mem'ry wakes, 

And fondly broods with miser care ! 
Time but the impression deeper makes, 

As streams their channels deeper wear. 
My Mary, dear departed shade ! 

Where is thy blissful place of rest ? 
See'st thou thy lover lowly laid 1 

Hear'st thou the groans that rend his breast ? 



^WWm^^ 



I DREAM'D I LAY WHERE FLOWERS WERE 
SPRINGING. 

I dream'd I lay where flowers were springing, 

Gaily in the sunny beam ; 
Listening to the wild birds singing, 

By a falling, crystal stream : 
Straight the sky grew black and daring • 

Thro' the woods the whirlwinds rave : ** 
Trees with aged arms were warring, 

O'er the swelling, drumlie wave. 

Such was my life's deceitful morning, 

Such the pleasure I enjoy'd ; 
But lang or noon, loud tempests storming, 

A' my flow'ry bliss destroy'd. 
Tho' fickle Fortune has deceived me, 

(She promised fair, and perform'd but ill ;) 
Of mony a joy and hope bereaved me, 

I bear a heart shall support me still. 



io7 



THE HIGHLAND LASSIE. 

Tune — " The Deuks dang o'er my Daddy!'''' 

Nae gentle dames, though e'er sae fair 
Shall ever be my muse's care ; 
Their titles a' are empty show : 
Gr me my highland lassie, O, 



Within the glen sae bushy, O, 



A boon the plain sae rushy, O, 
I set me down wi right good • 
To sing my high land lassie, O. 



Oh, were yon hills and valleys mine, 
Yon palace and yon gardens line ! 
The world then the love should know 
I bear my highland lassie, O. 

But fickle fortune frowns on me, 
And I maun cross the raging sea ; 
But while my crimson currents flow 
I'll love my highland lassie, O. 

Although through foreign climes I range, 
I know her heart will never change, 
For her bosom burns with honour's glow. 
My faithful highland lassie, O. 

For her I '11 dare the billows' roar, 
For her I'll trace a distant shore, 
That Indian wealth may lustre throw 
Around my highland lassie, O. 



108 THE HIGHLAND LASSIE. 

She has my heart, she has my hand, 
By sacred truth and honour's band ! 
Till the mortal stroke shall lay me low 
I'm thine, my highland lassie, O. 

Farewell the glen sae bushy, O ! 
Farewell the plain sae rushy, O / 
To other lands I now must go, 
To sing my highland lassie, Of 



NANNIE. 
Tune- -" My A T a nnie, 0. " 

Behind yon hills where Lugar flows, 
'Mang moors and mosses many, O, 

The wintry sun the day has closed, 
And I '11 awa' to Nannie, O. 

The westlin' wind blaws loud an' shill ; 

The night's baith mirk an' rainy, O ; 
But I '11 get my plaid, an' out I'll steal, 

An' owre the hills to Nannie, O. 

My Nannie's charming, sweet, an' young, 
Nae artfu' wiles to win ye, O : 

May ill befa' the flattering tongue 
That wad beguile my Nannie, O. 

Her face is fair, her heart is true, 
As spotless as she's bonnie, O : 

The op'ning gowan, wet wi' dew, 
Nae purer is than Nannie, O. 



NANNIE. IO9 

A country lad is my degree, 

An' few there be that ken me, O ; 
But what care I how few they be ? 

I'm welcome aye to Nannie, O. 

My riches a' 's my penny fee, 

An' I maun guide it cannie, O ; 
But warl's gear ne'er troubles me, 

My thoughts are a' my Nannie, O. 

Our auld guidman delights to view 
His sheep an' kye thrive bonnie, O , 

But I'm as blythe that haud his pleugh, 
An' ha'e nae care but Nannie, O. 

Come weel, come woe, I care na by, 
I'll tak' what Heav'n will sen' me, O ; 

Nae ither care in life have I, 

But live, an' love my Nannie, O. 



Wss<C^ 



FORLORN, MY LOVE, NO COMFORT NEAR. 

Tune — "Let me in this ae night."' 1 

Forlorn, my love, no comfort near, 
Far, far from thee, I wander here ; 
Far, far from thee, the fate severe 
At which I most repine, love. 

O wert thou, love, but near vie, 
But near, near, near me ; 
How kindly thou wouldst cheer me, 
And mingle sighs with mine, love, 



FORLORN, MY LOVE, NO COMFORT NEAR. 

Around me scowls a wintry sky, 
That blasts each bud of hope and joy, 
No shelter, shade, nor home have I, 
Save in those arms of thine, love. 
O wert thou, <&c. 

Cold, alter'd friendship's cruel part, 
To poison fortune's ruthless dart — 
Let me not break thy faithful heart, 
And say that fate is mine, love. 
O wert thou, &>c. 

But dreary though the moments fleet, 
O let me think we yet shall meet ! 
That only ray of solace sweet 
Can on thy Chloris shine, love. 
O wert thou, &=c. 




HER FLOWING LOCKS. 

Her flowing locks, the raven's wing, 
Adown her neck and bosom hing ; 
How sweet unto that breast to cling, 
And round that neck entwine her ! 

Her lips are roses wat wi' dew, 
O what a feast her bonnie mou' ! 
Her cheeks a mair celestial hue, 
A crimson still diviner. 




THE RIGS O' BARLEY. 

Tune — "Corn rigs are bonnie." 

It was upon a Lammas night, 
When corn rigs are bonnie, 

Beneath the moon's unclouded light, 
I held awa' to Annie : 



112 THE RIGS O BARLEY. 

The time flew by wi' tentless heed, 
Till 'tween the late and early, 

Wi' sma' persuasion she agreed, 
To see me thro' the barley. 

The sky was blue, the wind was still, 

The moon was shining clearly ; 
I set her down wi' right good will 

Amang the rigs o' barley. 
I ken'd her heart was a' my ain ; 

I loved her most sincerely ; 
I kiss'd her owre and owre again 

Amang the rigs o' barley. 

I lock'd her in my fond embrace ; 

Her heart was beating rarely ! 
My blessings on that happy place 

Amang the rigs o' barley. 
But by the moon and stars sae bright 

That shone that hour sae clearly ! 
She aye shall bless that happy night, 

Amang the rigs o' barley. 

I ha'e been blithe wi' comrades dear , 

I ha'e been merry drinking ; 
I ha'e been joyfu' gathering gear ; 

I ha'e been happy thinking ; 
But a' the pleasures e'er I saw, 

Though three times doubled fairly, 
That happy night was worth them a', 

Amang the rigs o' barley. 

CHORUS. 

Corn rigs an" barley rigs, 
And corn rigs are bonnie ; 

III ne'er forget that happy night 
Amang the rigs wi' Annie. 



H3 

THERE'S NOUGHT BUT CARE. 

Tune — il Green grow the Rashes.'''' 

Green grow the rashes, O ! 

Green grow the rashes, O ! 
The sweetest hours that ier I spent, 

Were spent amang the lasses, O ! 

There's nought but care on ev'ry han', 
In ev'ry hour that passes, O ; 

What signifies the life o' man, 
An 'twere na for the lasses, 01 

The war'ly race may riches chase, 
An' riches still may fly them, O ; 

An' tho' at last they catch them fast, 
Their hearts can ne'er enjoy them, O. 

But gi'e me a cannie hour at e'en, 
My arms about my dearie, O ; 

An' war'ly cares, an' war'ly men, 
May a' gae tapsalteerie, O ! 

For you sae douce, wha sneer at this, 
Ye're nought but senseless asses, O ; 

The wisest man the warl' e'er saw, 
He dearly loved the lasses, O. 

Auld Nature swears, the lovely dears 
Her noblest work she classes, O : 

Her 'prentice han' she tried on man, 
An' then she made the lasses, O. 

Green grow the rashes, 01 
Green grow the rashes, Of 

The sweetest hours that e'er I spent, 
Were spent amang the lasses, / 
Q 



ii 4 

MONTGOMERY'S PEGGY. 

Tune— " Galla Water. " 

Altho' my bed were in yon muir, 
Amang the heather, in my plaidie, 

Yet happy, happy would I be 

Had I my dear Montgomerie's Peggy. 

When o'er the hill beat surly storms, 
And winter nights were dark and rainy ; 

I'd seek some dell, and in my arms 
I'd shelter dear Montgomerie's Peggy. 

Were I a baron proud and high, 

And horse and servants waiting ready, 

That a' 'twad gi'e o' joy to me, 

The sharin' 't with Montgomerie's Peggy. 



MY JEAN. 

Tune — ■" The Norther 71 Lass." 

Though cruel Fate should bid us part, 

As far's the Pole and Line, 
Her dear idea round my heart 

Should tenderly entwine. 

Though mountains frown and deserts howl, 

And oceans roar between ; 
Yet, dearer than my deathless soul, 

I still would love my Jean. 



n5 

BLITHE WAS SHE. 

Tune — " Andro a?id his cutty gun."" 

Blithe, blithe and merry was she, 
Blithe was she but and ben : 

Blithe by the banks of Em, 
But blither in Glenturit glen. 

By Oughtertyre grows the aik, 

On Yarrow banks, the birken shaw ; 

But Phemie was a bonnier lass 
Than braes o' Yarrow ever saw. 

Her looks were like a flower in May, 
Her smile was like a simmer morn ; 

She tripped by the banks of Ern, 
As light's a bird upon a thorn. 

Her bonnie face it was as meek 

As ony lamb's upon a lea, 
The evening sun was ne'er sae sweet 

As was the blink o' Phemie's e'e. 

The Highland hills I've wander'd wide 
And o'er the Lowlands I ha'e been ; 

But Phemie was the blithest lass 
That ever trod the dewy green. 

Blithe, blithe and merry was she, 
Blithe was she but and ben: 

Blithe by the banks of Em, 
But blither in Gletiturit glen. 




WHEN WILD WAR'S DEADLY BLAST WAS BLAWN. 



When wild war's deadly blast was blawn, 

And gentle peace returning, 
Wi' monie a sweet babe fatherless, 

And mony a widow mourning : 



WHEN WILD WAR'S DEADLY BLAST. 117 

I left the lines and tented field, 

Where lang I'd been a lodger, 
My humble knapsack a' my wealth, 

A poor and honest soger. 

A leal, light heart was in my breast, 

My hand unstain'cl wi' plunder ; 
And for fair Scotia, hame again, 

I cheery on did wander. 
I thought upon the banks o' Coil, 

I thought upon my Nancy, 
I thought upon the witching smile 

That caught my youthful fancy. 

At length I reach'd the bonie glen, 

Where early life I sported ; 
I pass'd the mill, and trysting thorn, 

Where Nancy aft I courted : 
Wha spied I but my ain dear maid, 

Down by her mother's dwelling ! 
And turn'd me round to hide the flood 

That in my een was swelling. 

Wi' alter'd voice, quoth I, Sweet lass, 

Sweet as yon hawthorn's blossom, 
O ! happy, happy may he be, 

That's dearest to thy bosom ! 
My purse is light, I've far to gang, 

And fain wad be thy lodger ; 
I've served my King and Country lang, 

Take pity on a soger. 

Sae wistfully she gazed on me, 

And lovelier was than ever : 
Quo' she, A soger ance I lo'ed, 

Forget him shall I never : 



WHEN WILD WARS DEADLY BLAST. 

Our humble cot, and hamely fare, 

Ye freely shall partake it, 
That gallant badge, the dear cockade, 

Ye're welcome for the sake o't. 

She gazed- — she redden'd like a rose — 

Syne pale like onie lily ; 
She sank within my arms, and cried, 

Art thou my ain dear Willie ? 
By Him who made yon sun and sky — 

By whom true love's regarded, 
I am the man ; and thus may still 

True lovers be rewarded ! 

The wars are o'er, and I'm come name, 

And find thee still true-hearted ; 
Tho' poor in gear, we're rich in love, 

And mair we'se ne'er be parted. 
Quo' she, My grandsire left me gowd, 

A mailen plenish'd fairly ; 
And come, my faithfu' soger lad, 

Thou'rt welcome to it dearly ! 

For gold the merchant ploughs the main, 

The farmer ploughs the manor ; 
But glory is the soger's prize, 

The soger's wealth is honour : 
The brave poor soger ne'er despise, 

Nor count him as a stranger, 
Remember he's his country's stay 

In the day and hour o' danger. 



ii9 



ROBIN. 

There was a lad was born at Kyle, 
But what na day o' what na' style — 
I doubt it's hardly worth the while 
To be sae nice wi' Robin. 
Rob in was a rovirC boy, 

Rcmtirf rovm\ rantirC roviii ; 
Robin was a roviii boy, 
RantirC rovirt Robin. 

Our monarch's hindmost year but ane 
Was five-and-twenty days begun, 
'Twas then a blast o' Januar' win' 
Blew handsel in on Robin. 

The gossip keekit in his loof : 
Quo' scho, " Wha lives will see the proof, 
This waly boy will be nae cuif, 
I think we'll ca' him Robin. 

" He'll ha'e misfortunes great and sma', 
But ay a heart aboon them a' ; 
He'll be a credit till us a', 
We'll a' be proud o' Robin. 

" But sure as three times three mak' nine, 
I see by ilka score and line, 
This chap will dearly like our kin' — 
So leeze me on thee, Robin ! 

" Guid faith," quo' scho, " I doubt ye'll gar 
The bonnie lasses lie aspar, 
But twenty faults ye may ha'e waur, 
So blessin's on thee, Robin !" 
Robin was a rovirt boy, 6°<:. 



120 

BONNIE PEGGY ALISON. 

Tune — " Baaes d Balqtihidder." 

Fll kiss thee yet, yet, 

Art Fll kiss thee der again, 

Art Fll kiss thee yet, yet, 
My bonnie Peggy Alison ! 

Ilk care and fear, when thou art near, 

I ever mair defy them, O ; 
Young kings upon their handsel throne 

Are no sae blest as I am, O ! 

When in my arms, wi' a' thy charms, 
I clasp my countless treasure, O ; 

I seek nae mair o' Heaven to share, 
Than sic a moment's pleasure, O ! 

And by thy een, sae bonnie blue, 
I swear I'm thine for ever, O ; — 

And on thy lips I seal my vow, 
And break it shall I never, O ! 



O LEAVE NOVELS. 

O leave novels, ye Mauchline belles, 
Ye're safer at your spinning-wheel ; 

Such witching books are baited hooks 
For rakish rooks, like Rob Mossgiel. 

Your fine Tom Jones and Grandisons, 
They make your youthful fancies reel, 



O LEAVE NOVELS. 

They heat your brains, and fire your veins, 
And then you're prey for Rob Mossgiel. 

Beware a tongue that's smoothly hung, 

A heart that warmly seems to feel ; 
That feeling heart but acts a part, 

'Tis rakish art in Rob Mossgiel. 
The frank address, the soft caress, 

Are worse than poison'd darts of steel. 
The frank address, and politesse, 

Are all finesse in Rob Mossgiel. 




YOUNG PEGGY. 

Tune — " The last time we came owre the Muir.' 

Young Peggy blooms our bonniest lass, 

Her blush is like the morning, 
The rosy dawn, the springing grass, 

With pearly gems adorning. 
Her eyes outshine the radiant beams 

That gild the passing shower, 
And glitter o'er the crystal streams, 

And cheer each fresh'ning flower. 

Her lips more than the cherries bright, 

A richer dye has graced them ; 
They charm th' admiring gazer's sight, 

And sweetly tempt to taste them. 
Her smiles are like the evening mild, 

When feather'd pairs are courting, 
And little lambkins wanton wild, 

In playful bands disporting. 



122 YOUNG PEGGY. 

Were fortune lovely Peggy's foe, 

Such sweetness would relent her; 
As blooming spring unbends the brow 

Of savage, surly winter. 
Detraction's eye no aim can gain 

Her winning powers to lessen ; 
And spiteful envy grins in vain, 

The poison'd tooth to fasten. 

Ye powers of honour, love, and truth, 

From every ill defend her; 
Inspire the highly favour'd youth 

The destinies intend her. 
Still fan the sweet connubial flame, 

Responsive in each bosom ; 
And bless the dear parental name 

With many a filial blossom. 



TIBBIE DUNBAR. 

TUxNE— u Joh nny M' Gill. ' ' 

O wilt thou go wi' me, sweet Tibbie Dunbar? 

wilt thou go wi' me, sweet Tibbie Dunbar 1 
Wilt thou ride on a horse, or be drawn in a car 
Or walk by my side, O sweet Tibbie Dunbar? 

1 carena thy daddie, his lands and his money, 
I carena thy kin sae high and sae lordly : 
But say thou wilt ha'e me for better for waur, 
And come in thy coatie, sweet Tibbie Dunbar. 




THE BANKS OF THE DEVON, 

Tune — " Bhannerach dhon na cri." 

How pleasant the banks of the clear-winding Devon, 
With green-spreading bushes, and flowers blooming fair 



124 THE BANKS OF THE DEVON. 

But the bonniest flower on the banks of the Devon 
Was once a sweet bud on the braes of the Ayr. 

Mild be the sun on this sweet blushing flower, 
In the gay rosy morn as it bathes in the dew ! 

And gentle the fall of the soft vernal shower, 
That steals on the evening each leaf to renew. 

O spare the dear blossom, ye orient breezes, 
With chill hoary wing as ye usher the dawn ! 

And far be thou distant, thou reptile that seizes 
The verdure and pride of the garden and lawn ! 

Let Bourbon exult in his gay gilded lilies, 

And England triumphant display her proud rose ; 

A fairer than either adorns the green valleys 
Where Devon, sweet Devon, meandering flows. 



MENIE. 

Tune — "Johnnys Grey Breeks." 

Again rejoicing nature sees 

Her robe assume its vernal hues, 

Her leafy locks wave in the breeze, 
All freshly steep'd in morning dews. 

And maun I still on Menie doat, 

And bear the scorn that's in her e'e ? 

For ifs jet, jet black, an' ifs like a hawk. 
An' it winna let a body be! 



MENIE. , 125 

In vain to me the cowslips blaw, 

In vain to me the vi'lets spring; 
In vain to me, in glen or shaw, 

The mavis and the lintwhite sing. 

The merry ploughboy cheers his team, 
Wi' joy the tentie seedsman stalks, 

But life to me 's a weary dream, 
A dream of ane that never wauks. 

The wanton coot the water skims, 
Amang the reeds the ducklings cry, 

The stately swan majestic swims, 
And every thing is blest but I. 

The sheep-herd steeks his faulding slap, 
And owre the moorlands whistles shrill, 

Wi' wild, unequal, wand'ring step, 
I meet him on the dewy hill. 

And when the lark, 'tween light and dark, 
Blythe waukens by the daisy's side, 

And mounts and sings on flittering wings, 
A woe-worn ghaist I hameward glide. 

Come, Winter, with thine angry howl, 
And raging bend the naked tree ; 

Thy gloom will soothe my cheerless soul, 
W T hen nature all is sad like me ! 

And maim I still on Menie doat, 

And bear the scorn thafs in her <?'<? ? 

For its jet, jet black, an' its like a hawk, 
An' it winna let a body be/ 



126 



ON CESSNOCK BANKS. 

Tune — " If he be a Butcher neat and trim." 

On Cessnock banks there lives a lass — 
Could I describe her shape and mien ; 

The graces of her weel-far'd face, 

And the glancin' of her sparklin' een. 

She's fresher than the morning dawn 
When rising Phoebus first is seen, 

When dew-drops twinkle o'er the lawn ; 
An' she's twa glancin' sparklin' een. 

She's stately like yon youthful ash, 

That grows the cowslip braes between, 

And shoots its head above each bush ; 
An' she's twa glancin' sparklin' een. 

She's spotless as the flow'ring thorn 

With flow'rs so white and leaves so green. 

When purest in the dewy morn ; 
An' she 's twa glancin' sparklin' een. 

Her looks are like the sportive lamb, 
When flow'ry May adorns the scene, 

That wantons round its bleating dam ; 
An' she's twa glancin' sparklin' een. 

Her hair is like the curling mist 

That shades the mountain-side at e'en, 

When flow'r-reviving rains are past ; 
An' she's twa glancin' sparklin' een. 



ON CESSNOCK BANKS. 1 27 

Her forehead's like the show'ry bow, 

When shining sunbeams intervene 
And gild the distant mountain's brow ; 

An' she's twa glancin' sparklin' een. 

Her voice is like the ev'ning thrush 
That sings on Cessnock banks unseen, 

While his mate sits nestling in the bush ; 
An' she's twa glancin' sparklin' een. 

Her lips are like the cherries ripe 
That sunny walls from Boreas screen, 

They tempt the taste and charm the sight -j 
An' she's twa glancin' sparklin' een. 

Her teeth are like a flock of sheep, 

With fleeces newly washen clean, 
That slowly mount the rising steep ; 

An' she's twa glancin' sparklin' een. 

Her breath is like the fragrant breeze 
That gently stirs the blossom'd bean, 

When Phoebus sinks behind the seas ; 
An she 's twa glancin' sparklin' een. 

But it's not her air, her form, her face, 
Tho' matching Beauty's fabled queen, 

But the mind that shines in ev'ry grace, 
An' chiefly in her sparklin' een. 




128 



A ROSE-BUD BY MY EARLY WALK. 

TUNE-" 7%^ Shepherd's Wife:' 

A rose-bud by my early walk, 
Adown a corn-enclosed bawk, 
Sae gently bent its thorny stalk, 
All on a dewy morning. 

Ere twice the shades o' dawn are fled, 
In a' its crimson glory spread, 
And drooping rich the dewy head, 
It scents the early morning. 

Within the bush, her covert nest 
A little linnet fondly prest, 
The dew sat chilly on her breast 
Sae early in the morning. 

She soon shall see her tender brood, 
The pride, the pleasure o' the wood ; 
Amang the fresh green leaves bedew'd, 
Awake the early morning. 

So thou, dear bird ! young Jeannie fair, 
On trembling string or vocal air, 
Shall sweetly pay the tender care, 
That tents thy early morning. 

So thou, sweet rose-bud ! young and gay, 
Shall beauteous blaze upon the day, 
And bless the parent's evening ray, 
That watch'd thy early morning. 








DUNCAN GRAY. 



Duncan Gray came here to woo, 

Ha, ha, the wooing o't, 
On blythe Yule night when we were fou, 

Ha, ha, the wooing o't. 
Maggie coost her head fu' high, 
Look'd asklent and unco skeigh, 
Gart poor Duncan stand abeigh ; 

Ha, ha, the wooing o't. 
s 



130 DUNCAN GRAY. 

Duncan fleech'd, and Duncan pray'd ; 

Ha, ha, the wooing o't, 
Meg was deaf as Ailsa Craig, 

Ha, ha, the wooing o't. 
Duncan sigh'd baith out and in, 
Grat his een baith bleer't and blin', 
Spak o' lowpin' owre a linn ; 

Ha, ha, the wooing o 't. 

Time and chance are but a tide, 

Ha, ha, the wooing o 't, 

Slighted love is sair to bide, 

Ha, ha, the wooing o 't. 

Shall I, like a fool, quoth he, 

For a haughtie hizzie die 1 

She may gae to — France for me ! 

Ha, ha, the wooing o 't. 

How it comes let doctors tell, 

Ha, ha, the wooing o 't, 

Meg grew sick — as he grew well, 

Ha, ha, the wooing o 't. 

Something in her bosom wrings, 

For relief a sigh she brings ; 

And O, her een, they spak sic things ! 
Ha, ha, the wooing o't. 

Duncan was a lad o' grace, 

Ha, ha, the wooing o't, 

Maggie's was a piteous case, 

Ha, ha, the wooing o 't. 

Duncan could na be her death, 

Swelling pity smoor'd his wrath ; 

Now they 're crouse and canty baith. 
Ha, ha, the wooing o't. 



L3 1 



STREAMS THAT GLIDE. 

Tune — " Morag." 

Streams that glide in orient plains, 
Never bound by winter's chains, 
Glowing here on golden sands, 
There commix'd with foulest stains 
From tyranny's empurpled bands ; 
These, their richly-gleaming waves, 
I leave to tyrants and their slaves ; 
Give me the stream that sweetly laves 
The banks by Castle Gordon. 

Spicy forests, ever gay, 
Shading from the burning ray 
Hapless wretches sold to toil, 
Or the ruthless native's way. 
Bent on slaughter, blood, and spoil : 
Woods that ever verdant wave, 
I leave the tyrant and the slave, 
Give me the groves that lofty brave 
The storms by Castle Gordon. 

Wildly here, without control, 
Nature reigns and rules the whole ; 
In that sober pensive mood, 
Dearest to the feeling soul, 
She plants the forest, pours the flood ; 
Life's poor day I '11 musing rave, 
And find at night a sheltering cave, 
Where waters flow and wild woods wave 
By bonnie Castle Gordon. 



132 

MARY. 

Tune — "■ Blue Bonnets. " 

Powers celestial, whose protection 

Ever guards the virtuous fair, 
While in distant climes I wander 

Let my Mary be your care : 
Let her form sae fair and faultless, 

Fair and faultless as your own ; 
Let my Mary's kindred spirit, 

Draw your choicest influence down. 

Make the gales you waft around her, 

Soft and peaceful as her breast ; 
Breathing in the breeze that fans her, 

Soothe her bosom into rest : 
Guardian angels, O protect her, 

When in distant lands I roam ; 
To realms unknown while fate exiles me, 

Make her bosom still my home. 



ELIZA. 

Tune — " Gilder oy." 

From thee, Eliza, I must go, 

And from my native shore ; 
The cruel fates between us throw 

A boundless ocean's roar ; 
But boundless oceans roaring wide, 

Between my love and me, 
They never, never can divide 

My heart and soul from thee. 



ELIZA. 

Farewell, farewell, Eliza dear, 

The maid that I adore ! 
A boding voice is in mine ear, 

We part to meet no more : 
But the last throb that leaves my heart, 

While death stands victor by, 
That throb, Eliza, is thy part, 

And thine that latest sigh. 



*33 



<m 




RAVING WINDS AROUND HER BLOWING. 

Tune — " M'Grigor of Ruara's Lament.''' 

Raving winds around her blowing, 
Yellow leaves the woodlands strewing, 
By a river hoarsely roaring, 
Isabella strayed deploring : 
" Farewell, hours that late did measure 
Sunshine days of joy and pleasure ; 
Hail, thou gloomy night of sorrow — 
Cheerless night that knows no morrow ! 

"O'er the past too fondly wandering, 
On the hopeless future pondering ; 
Chilly grief my life-blood freezes, 
Fell despair my fancy seizes. 
Life, thou soul of every blessing, 
Load, to misery most distressing, 
O how gladly I'd resign thee, 
And to dark oblivion join thee !" 




: . L & 



-■;.., 



CA' THE YOWES. 

Tune — u Ca the Yowes to the Knowes." 

Cc£ the yowes to the knowes, 

Ccf them where the heather grows, 



CA THE YOWES. T 31 

Cc£ them where the b unite rows, 
My bonnie dearie. 

Hark, the mavis' evening sang, 
Sounding Clouden's woods amang ; 
Then a-faulding let us gang, 
My bonnie dearie. 

We'll gae down by Clouden side, 
Through the hazels spreading wide, 
O'er the wayes that sweetly glide 
To the moon sae clearly. 

Yonden Clouden's silent towers,' 
Where at moonshine midnight hours, 
O'er the dewy bending flowers, 
Fairies dance sae cheery. 

Ghaist nor bogle shalt thou fear ; 
Thou'rt to love and heaven sae dear, 
Nocht of ill may come thee near, 
My bonnie dearie. 

Fair and lovely as thou art, 
Thou hast stown my very heart : 
I can die — but canna part, 
My bonnie dearie. 

CcC the yowes to the knowes, 
CcC them where the heather grows, 
CcC them where the burnie rows, 
My bonnie dearie. 



i 3 6 



THE AUTHOR'S FAREWELL TO HIS NATIVE 
COUNTRY. 

Burns intended this song as a farewell dirge to his native land, from 
which he was to embark in a few days for Jamaica. "I had taken," 
says he, ' ' the last farewell of my friends : my chest was on the road to 
Greenock : I composed the last song I should ever measure in Caledonia 
— ' The gloomy night is gath'ring fast. 

Tune — ' ' Roslin Castle. ' ' 

The gloomy night is gath'ring fast, 
Loud roars the wild inconstant blast, 
Yon murky cloud is foul with rain, 
I see it driving o'er the plain ; 
The hunter now has left the moor, 
The scatter'd coveys meet secure, 
While here I wander, prest wi' care, 
Along the lonely banks of Ayr. 

The Autumn mourns her rip'ning corn, 
By early Winter's ravage torn : 
Across her placid azure sky 
She sees the scowling tempest fly ; 
Chill runs my blood to hear it rave, 
I think upon the stormy wave, 
Where many a danger I must dare, 
Far from the bonnie banks of Ayr. 

'Tis not the surging billow's roar, 
'Tis not that fatal deadly shore; 
Tho' death in ev'ry shape appear, 
The wretched have no more to fear ; 
But round my heart the ties are bound, 
That heart transpierced with many a wound 



THE AUTHORS FAREWELL. 1 37 

These bleed afresh, those ties I tear, 
To leave the bonnie banks of Ayr. 

Farewell old Coila's hills and dales, 
Her heathy moors and winding vales ; 
The scenes where wretched fancy roves, 
Pursuing past, unhappy loves ! 
Farewell, my friends ! farewell, my foes ! 
My peace with these, my love with those — 
The bursting tears my heart declare, 
Farewell the bonnie banks of Ayr ! 



WHERE, BRAVING ANGRY WINTER'S STORMS. 

Tune — "Neil Gows Lamentation for Abet'cairny." 

Where braving angry winter's storms, 

The lofty Ochils rise, 
Far in their shade my Peggy's charms 

First blest my wondering eyes. 
As one who, by some savage stream, 

A lonely gem surveys, 
Astonish'd, doubly marks its beam 

With art's most polish'd blaze. 

Blest be the wild, sequester'd shade, 

And blest the day and hour, 
Where Peggy's charms I first survey'd, 

When first I felt their pow'r ! 
The tyrant death, with grim control, 

May seize my fleeting breath ; 
But tearing Peggy from my soul 

Must be a stronger death. 

T 



138 

BONNIE LASSIE, WILL YE GO, 

Tune— "The Birks of Aberfeldy." 

Bonnie lassie, will ye go, will ye go, zvill ye go; 
Bonnie lassie, will ye go to the Birks of Aberfeldy 

Now simmer blinks on flowery braes, 
And o'er the crystal streamlet plays, 
Come let us spend the lightsome days 
In the Birks of Aberfeldy. 
Bonnie lassie, &c. 

While o'er their heads the hazels hing, 

The little birdies blithely sing, 

Or lightly flit on wanton wing 

In the Birks of Aberfeldy. 

Bonnie lassie, &c. 

The braes ascend like lofty wa's, 
The foaming stream deep roaring fa's, 
O'er-hung wi' fragrant spreading shaws, 
The Birks of Aberfeldy. 
Bonnie lassie, &c. 

The hoary cliffs are crown'd wi' flowers, 
White o'er the linns the burnie pours, 
And rising, weets wi' misty showers 
The Birks of Aberfeldy. 
Bonnie lassie, &c. 

Let fortune's gifts at random flee, 
They ne'er shall draw a wish frae me, 
Supremely blest wi' love and thee, 
In the Birks of Aberfeldy. 
Bonnie lassie, &c. 




TIBBIE, I HA'E SEEN THE DAY. 

Tun e — ' ' Inverca ulcTs Reel. ' ' 

O Tibbie, I hcCe seen the day. 

Ye 7D ad nae been sae shy ; 
For lack d gear ye lightly me, 
But, trowth, I care na by. 

Yestreen I met you on the moor, 
Ye spak na, but gaed by like stoure 
Ye geek at me because I'm poor, 
But fient a hair care I 



I40 TIBBIE, I HA'E SEEN THE DAY. 

I doubt na, lass, but ye may think, 
Because ye ha'e the name o' clink, 
That ye can please me at a wink, 
Whene'er ye like to try ; 

But sorrow tak' him, that's sae mean, 
Although his pouch o' coin were clean, 
Wha follows onie saucy quean 
That looks sae proud and high. 

Although a lad were e'er sae smart, 
If that he want the yellow dirt, 
Ye'll cast your head anither airt, 
And answer him fu' dry. 

But if he ha'e the name o' gear, 
Ye'll fasten to him like a brier, 
Though hardly he, for sense or lear, 
Be better than the kye. 

But Tibbie, lass, tak' my advice, 
Your daddie's gear mak's you sae nice 
The de'il a ane wad spier your price, 
Were ye as poor as I. 

There lives a lass in yonder park, , 
I wad na gie her in her sark, 
For thee, wi' a' thy thousan' mark ; 
Ye need na look sae high. 




i4i 



HOW LONG AND DREARY IS THE NIGHT, 

Tune — " Catdd Kail in Aberdeen." 

How long and dreary is the night, 

When I am frae my dearie ! 
I restless lie frae e'en to morn, 

Tho' I were ne'er sae weary. 

For oh, her lanely nights are tang, 
And oh, her dreams are eerie; 

And oh, her widow' d heart is sair, 
That's absent frae her dearie. 

When I think on the lightsome days 

I spent wi' thee, my dearie ; 
And now what seas between us roar, 

How can I be but eerie % 

How slow ye move, ye heavy hours ; 

The joyless day how drearie ! 
It was na sae ye glinted by, 

When I was wi' my dearie. 



THICKEST NIGHT, O'ERHANG MY DWELLING. 

Tune — " Strathallari 's Lament. " 

Thickest night, o'erhang my dwelling ! 

Howling tempests, o'er me rave ! 
Turbid torrents, wintry swelling, 

Still surround my lonely cave ! 



142 THICKEST NIGHT, O'ERHANG MY DWELLING. 

Crystal streamlets, gently flowing, 
Busy haunts of base mankind, 

Western breezes, softly blowing, 
Suit not my distracted mind. 

In the cause of right engaged, 
Wrongs injurious to redress, 

Honour's war we strongly waged, 
But the heavens denied success. 

Ruin's wheel has driven o'er us, 
Not a hope that dare attend, 

The wide world is all before us — 
But a world without a friend ! 



UP IN THE MORNING EARLY. 

U-b in the mornings no for me, 

Up in the morning early ; 
When a" the hills are covered w? snaw, 

Pm sure it's winter fairly. 

Cauld blaws the wind frae east to west, 

The drift is driving sairly ; 
Sae loud and shrill's I hear the blast 

I'm sure it's winter fairly. 
Up in the morning, &c. 

The birds sit chittering in the thorn, 
A' day they fare but sparely; 

And lang's the night frae e'en to morn, 
I'm sure it's winter fairly. 
Up in the morning, &c. 



H3 



THE YOUNG HIGHLAND ROVER. 

Tune—" Morag. " 

Loud blaw the frosty breezes, 

The snaws the mountains cover ; 
Like winter on me seizes, 

Since my young Highland Rover 

Far wanders nations over 
Where'er he go, where'er he stray, 

May Heaven be his warden : 
Return him safe to fair Strathspey, 

And bonnie Castle Gordon ! 

The trees now naked groaning, 
Shall soon wi' leaves be hinging, 

The birdies dowie moaning, 
Shall a' be blithely singing, 
And every flower be springing. 

Sae I'll rejoice the lee-lang day, 
When by his mighty warden 

My youth's return'd to fair Strathspey, 
And bonnie Castle Gordon. 



-m^ 



MUSING ON THE ROARING OCEAN. 

Tun e — ' ' Drtim ion dubh . ' ' 

Musing on the roaring ocean, 
Which divides my love and me ; 

Wearying Heaven in warm devotion, 
For his weal where'er he be. 



44 MUSING ON THE ROARING OCEAN. 

Hope and fear's alternate billow 
Yielding late to nature's law ; 

Whisp'ring spirits round my pillow 
Talk of him that's far awa\ 

Ye whom sorrow never wounded, 
Ye who never shed a tear, 

Care untroubled, joy surrounded, 
Gaudy day to you is dear. 

Gentle night, do thou befriend me ; 

Downy sleep, the curtain draw ; 
Spirits kind, again attend me, 

Talk of him that 's far awa' ! 




STAY, MY CHARMER. 

Tune — "An Gillie-ditbh ciar-dkubh." 

Stay, my charmer, can you leave me I 

Cruel, cruel to deceive me ! 

Well you know how much you grieve me ; 

Cruel charmer, can you go 1 

Cruel charmer, can you go 1 

By my love so ill requited ; 

By the faith you fondly plighted ; 

By the pangs of lovers slighted ; 

Do not, do not leave me so ! . 

Do not, do not leave me so ! 




THE LASS O' BALLOCHMYLE. 

Tune— " Mi s s Forties's Farewell to Banff. " 

'Twas even — the dewy fields were green, 

On every blade the pearls hang; 
The zephyr wanton'd round the bean 

And bore its fragrant sweets alang 
In every glen the mavis sang, 

All nature listening seem'd the while, 
Except where green-wood echoes rang, 

Amang the braes o' Ballochmyle. 



1 46 THE LASS O' RALLOCHMYLE. 

With careless step I onward stray'd, 

My heart rejoiced in nature's joy, 
When musing in a lonely glade, 

A maiden fair I chanced to spy ; 
Her look was like the morning's eye, 

Her air like nature's vernal smile, 
Perfection whisper'd, passing by, 

Behold the lass o' Ballochmyle ! 

Fair is the morn in flowery May, 

And sweet is night in autumn mild ; 
When roving thro' the garden gay, 

Or wandering in a lonely wild : 
But woman, nature's darling child ! 

There all her charms she does compile ; 
Ev'n there her other works are foil'd 

By the bonnie lass o' Ballochmyle. 

O, had she been a country maid, 

And I the happy country swain, 
Tho' shelter'd in the lowest shed 

That ever rose in Scotland's plain 
Thro' weary winter's wind and rain, 

With joy, with rapture, I would toil ; 
And nightly to my bosom strain 

The bonnie lass o' Ballochmyle. 

Then pride might climb the slipp'ry steep, 

Where fame and honours lofty shine ; 
And thirst of gold might tempt the deep, 

Or downward seek the Indian mine ; 
Give me the cot below the pine, 

To tend the flocks or till the soil, 
And every day have joys divine 

With the bonnie lass o' Ballochmyle. 



147 

I GAED A WAEFU' GATE, YESTREEN. 

Tune — ' ' The Blue-eyed Lassie. " 

I gaed a waefu' gate yestreen, 

A gate, I fear, I'll dearly rue; 
I gat my death frae twa sweet een, 

Twa lovely een o' bonnie blue. 
'Twas not her golden ringlets bright; 

Her lips like roses weet wi' dew, 
Her heaving bosom lily-white ; — 

It was her een sae bonnie blue. 

She talk'd, she smil'd, my heart she wyl'd, 

She charm'd my soul I wist na how ; 
And aye the stound, the deadly wound, 

Cam frae her een sae bonnie blue. 
But spare to speak, and spare to speed ; 

She'll aiblins listen to my vow : 
Should she refuse, I'll lay my dead 

To her twa een sae bonnie blue. 




YOUNG JOCKEY. 

Young Jockey was the blithest lad 

In a' our town or here awa ; 
Fu' blithe he whistled at the gaud, 

Fu' lightly danced he in the ha'! 
He roos'd my een sae bonnie blue, 

He roos'd my waist sae genty sma' 
An' aye my heart came to my mou, 

When ne'er a bodv heard or saw. 



148 YOUNG JOCKEY. 

My Jockey toils upon the plain, 

Thro' wind and weet, thro' frost and snaw 
And o'er the lea I look fu' fain 

When Jockey's owsen hameward ca'. 
An' aye the night comes round again, 

When in his arms he taks me a' ; 
An' aye he vows he'll be my ain 

As lang 's he has a breath to draw. 



MY BONNIE MARY. 

Go fetch to me a pint o 1 wine, 

An' fill it in a silver tassie ; 
That I may drink before I go, 

A service to my bonnie lassie ; 
The boat rocks at the pier o' Leith ; 

Fu' loud the wind blaws frae the ferry 
The ship rides by the Berwick-law, 

And I maun lea'e my bonnie Mary. 

The trumpets sound, the banners fly, 

The glittering spears are ranked ready ; 
The shouts o' war are heard afar, 

The battle closes thick and bloody ; 
But it's not the roar o' sea or shore 

Wad mak me langer wish to tarry ; 
Nor shout o' war that's heard afar : 

It's leaving thee, my bonnie Mary. 



J 49 



WILLIE BREW'D A PECK O' MAUT. 

These verses were composed to celebrate a visit which the Poet and 
Allan Masterton made to William NichoL of the High-school, Edin- 
burgh, who happened to be at Moffat during the autumn vacation. — 
The air is by Masterton. 

O, Willie brew'd a peck o' maut, 
And Rob and Allan came to see ; 

Three blither hearts, that lee-lang night, 
Ye wad na find in Christendie. 

We are nd fou, we 're nae that foil, 
But just a drappie in our e'e; 

The cock may craw, the day may daw", 
But aye we'll taste the barley-bree. 

Here are we met, three merry boys, 
Three merry boys, I trow, are we ; 

And mony a night we've merry been, 
And mony mae we hope to be ! 

It is the moon, I ken her horn, 
That's blinkin' in the lift sae hie ; 

She shines sae bright to wyle us hame, 
But, by my sooth, she'll wait a wee ! 

Wha first shall rise to gang awa', 
A cuckold, coward loon is he ! 

Wha last beside his chair shall fa', 
He is the king amang us three ! 

We are na" foil, we 're nae that fou, 
But just a drappie in our e'e ; 

The cock mav craw, the day may daw\ 
But ay we'll taste the barley-bree. 




CASSILLIS' BANKS. 



Now bank an' brae are claith'd in green, 
An' scatter'd cowslips sweetly spring; 



CASSILLIS BANKS. T^T 

By Girvan's fairy-haunted stream 

The birdies flit on wanton wing. 
To Cassillis' banks when e'ening fa's, 

There wi' my Mary let me flee, 
There catch her ilka glance of love, 

The bonnie blink o' Mary's e'e ! 

The chield wha boasts o' warld's wealth 

Is aften laird o' meikle care ; 
But Mary she is a' my ain — 

Ah ! fortune carina gi'e me mair. 
Then let me range by Cassillis' banks, 

Wi' her, the lassie dear to me, 
And catch her ilka glance o' love, 

The bonnie blink of Mary's e'e ! 




WAE IS MY HEART. 

Wae is my heart, and the tear 's in my e'e ; 
Lang, lang joy's been a stranger to me : 
Forsaken and friendless my burden I bear, 
And the sweet voice o' pity ne'er sounds in my ear. 

Love, thou hast pleasures ; and deep ha'e I loved ; 
Love, thou hast sorrows ; and sair ha'e I proved : 
But this bruised heart that now bleeds in my breast, 
I can feel by its throbbings will soon be at rest. 

O if I were happy, where happy I ha'e been, 
Down by yon stream, and yon bonnie castle green ; 
For there he is wand'ring and musing on me, 
Wha wad soon dry the tear frae Phillis's e'e. 



BONNIE ANN. 

Ye gallants bright, I rede you right, 

Beware o' bonnie Ann ; 
Her comely face sae fu' o' grace, 

Your heart she will trepan. 
Her een sae bright, like stars by night, 

Her skin is like the swan ; 
Sae jimpy lac'd her genty waist, 

That sweetly ye might span. 

Youth, grace, and love, attendant move, 

And pleasure leads the van ; 
In a' their charms, and conquering arms, 

They wait on bonnie Ann. 
The captive bands may chain the hands, 

But love enslaves the man : 
Ye gallants braw, I rede you a', 

Beware o' bonnie Ann. 



K 



MY HARRY. 

Tune — "Highlander's Lament. " 

My Harry was a gallant gay, 

Fu' stately strode he on the plain : 

But now he's banish'd far away, 
I'll never see him back again. 

for him back again ! 

O for him back again ! 

1 wad g? cC Knockhaspie's land, 
For Highland Harry back again. 



MY HARRY. 1 53 



When a' the lave gae to their bed, 
I wander dowie up the glen ; 

I sit me down and greet my fill, 
And ay I wish him back again. 

O were some villains hangit high, 
And ilka body had their ain ! 

Then I might see the joyfu' sight, 
My Highland Harry back again. 




THE LAZY MIST. 



Irish Air — " Coolun." 



The lazy mist hangs from the brow of the hill, 
Concealing the course of the dark-winding rill j 
How languid the scenes, late so sprightly, appear, 
As autumn to winter resigns the pale year ! 
The forests are leafless, the meadows are brown, 
And all the gay foppery of summer is flown : 
Apart let me wander, apart let me muse, 
How quick time is flying, how keen fate pursues ; 

How long I have lived, but how much lived in vain ; 
How little of life's scanty span may remain : 
What aspects, old Time, in his progress, has worn ; 
What ties, cruel fate in my bosom has torn. 
How foolish, or worse, till our summit is gain'd ! 
And downward, how weaken'd, how darken'd, how pain'd ; 
This life's not worth having with all it can give, 
For something beyond it poor man sure must live. 

x 



-f 54- 



THERE'S A YOUTH IN THIS CITY, 

Tune — " Neil Gow's Lament. " 

There's a youth in this city, 

It were a great pity, 
That he from our lasses should wander awa' ; 

For he 's bonnie an' braw, 

Weel favour'd an' a', 
And his hair has a natural buckle and a'. 

His coat is the hue 

Of his bonnet sae blue ; 
His fecket is white as the new-driven snaw • 

His hose they are blae, 

And his shoon like the slae, 
And his clear siller buckles they dazzle us a'. 

For beauty and fortune 

The laddie's been courtin' ; 
Weel-featur'd, weel-tocher'd, weel-mounted, and braw ; 

But chiefly the siller, 

That gars him gang till her, 
The pennie's the jewel that beautifies a'. 

There's Meg wi' the mailin . 

That fain wad a haen him, 
And Susy, whase daddy was laird o' the ha' ; 

There's lang-tocher'd Nancy 

Maist fetters his fancy, 
— But the laddie's dear sel' he lo'es dearest of a'. 




MY HEART IS A-BREAKING, DEAR TITTIE. 



Tune — " The Mucking d Gcordie's Byre. 



My heart is a-breaking, dear Tittie, 
Some counsel unto me come len', 

To anger them a' is a pity; 

But what will I do wi' Tam Glen? 



156 MY HEART IS A-BREAKING, DEAR TITTIE. 

I'm thinkin', wi' sic a braw fallow, 
In poortith I might mak a fen' ; 

What care I in riches to wallow, 
If I maunna marry Tam Glen % 

There's Lowrie the laird o' Dumeller, 

" Guid-day to you, brute !" he comes ben 

He brags and he blaws o' his siller, 

But when will he dance like Tam Glen ? 

My minnie does constantly deave me, 
And bids me beware o' young men ; 

They natter, she says, to deceive me ; 
But wha can think sae o' Tam Glen? 

My daddie says, gin I'll forsake him, 
He'll gie me guid hunder marks ten : 

But, if it's ordain'd I maun tak' him, 
O wha will I get but Tam Glen 1 

Yestreen at the Valentines' dealing, 
My heart to my mou' gied a sten : 

For thrice I drew ane without failing, 
And thrice it was written, Tam Glen. 

The last Halloween I was waukin 
My droukit sark-sleeve, as ye ken ; 

His likeness cam up the house staukin — 
And the very grey breeks o' Tam Glen ! 

Come counsel, dear Tittie, don't tarry; 

I'll gi'e you my bonnie black hen, 
Gif ye will advise me to marry 

The lad I lo'e dearly, Tam Glen. 



i57 
OF A' THE AIRTS THE WIND CAN BLAW. 

Tune — " Miss Admiral Gordons Strathspey. " 

Of a' the airts the wind can blaw, 

I dearly like the west, 
For there the bonnie lassie lives, 

The lassie I lo'e best : 
There wild woods grow, and rivers row, 

And mony a hill between ; 
But day and night my fancy's flight 

Is ever wi' my Jean. 

I see her in the dewy flowers, 

I see her sweet and fair : 
I hear her in the tunefu' birds, 

I hear her charm the air : 
There's not a bonnie flower that springs 

By fountain, shaw, or green ; 
There's not a bonnie bird that sings 

But minds me o' my Jean. 



THE DAY RETURNS, MY BOSOM BURNS. 

' Tune—" Seventh of November. " 

The day returns, my bosom burns, 
The blissful day we twa did meet, 

Tho' winter wild in tempest toil'd, 
Ne'er summer-sun was half sae sweet. 



158 THE DAY RETURNS, MY BOSOM BURNS. 

Than a' the pride that loads the tide, 
And crosses o'er the sultry Line ; 

Than kingly robes, than crowns and globes, 
Heaven gave me more, it made thee mine. 

While day and night can bring delight, 

Or nature aught of pleasure give ; 
While joys above my mind can move, 

For thee, and thee alone, I live ! 
When that grim foe of life below 

Comes in between to make us part ; 
The iron hand that breaks our band, 

It breaks my bliss — it breaks my heart. 



GLOOMY DECEMBER. 

Ance mair I hail thee, thou gloomy December ! 

Ance mair I hail thee, wi' sorrow and care ; 
Sad was the parting thou makes me remember, 

Parting wi' Nancy, oh, ne'er to meet mair ! 
Fond lovers' parting is sweet painful pleasure ; 

Hope beaming mild on the soft parting hour ; 
But the dire feeling, O farewell for ever, 

Is anguish unmingled and agony pure. 

Wild as the winter now tearing the forest, 

Till the last leaf of the summer is flown, 
Such is the tempest has shaken my bosom, 

Since my last hope and last comfort is gone ; 
Still as I hail thee, thou gloomy December, 

Still shall I hail thee wi' sorrow and care ; 
For sad was the parting thou makes me remember, 

Parting wi' Nancy, oh, ne'er to meet mair ! 



i59 

MARY MORISON. 

Tune — " Bide ye yet. ' ' 

Mary, at thy window be, 

It is the wish'd, the trysted hour ! 
Those smiles and glances let me see, 

That make the miser's treasure poor : 
How blithely wad I bide the stoure, 

A weary slave frae sun to sun ; 
Could I the rich reward secure, 

The lovely Mary Morison. 

Yestreen, when to the trembling string 
The dance gaed thro' the lighted ha', 

To thee my fancy took its wing, 
I sat, but neither heard or saw : 

Tho' this was fair, and that was braw, 
And yon the toast of a* the town, 

1 sigh'd, and said amang them a', 
" Ye are na Mary Morison." 

O Mary, canst thou wreck his peace, 

Wha for thy sake wad gladly die 1 
Or canst thou break that heart of his, 

Whase only faut is loving thee ? 
If love for love thou wilt na gie, 

At least be pity to me shown ! 
A thought ungentle canna be 

The thought o' Mary Morison. 







cA 




=r^ \V.l 



rrm 



BONNIE JEAN. 



There was a lass, and she was fair, 
At kirk and market to be seen, 

When a' the fairest maids were met, 
The fairest maid was bonnie Jean. 

And aye she wrought her mammie's wark, 
And aye she sang sae merrilie : 

The blithest bird upon the bush 
Had ne'er a lighter heart than she. 



BONNIE JEAN. l6l 

But hawks will rob the tender joys 
That bless the little lintwhite's nest ; 

And frost will blight the fairest flow'rs, 
And love will break the soundest rest. 

Young Robie was the brawest lad, 
The flower and pride of a' the glen ; 

And he had owsen, sheep and kye, 
And wanton naigies nine or ten. 

He gaed wi' Jeanie to the tryst, 

He danced wi' Jeanie on the down ; 

And lang ere witless Jeanie wist, 

Her heart was tint, her peace was stown. 

As in the bosom o' the stream, 

The moonbeam dwells at dewy e'en ; 

So trembling, pure, was tender love 
Within the breast o' bonnie Jean. 

And now she works her mammie's wark, 
And aye she sighs wi' care and pain ; 

Yet wist na what her ail might be, 
Or what wad mak' her weel again. 

But did na Jeanie's heart loup light, 

And did na joy blink in her e'e, 
As Robie tauld a tale o' love, 

Ae e'enin' on the lily lea? 

The sun was sinking in the west, 
The birds sang sweet in ilka grove ; 

His cheek to hers he fondly prest, 
And whisper' d thus his tale o' love : 

" O Jeanie fair, I lo'e thee dear ; 
O canst thou think to fancy me 1 

Y 



I 62 BONNIE JEAN. 

Or wilt thou leave thy mammie's cot, 
And learn to tent the farms wi' me ? 

"At barn or byre thou shalt na drudge, 

Or naething else to trouble thee; 
But stray amang the heather-bells, 
And tent the waving corn wi' me." 

Now what could artless Jeanie do? 

She had nae will to sae him na : 
At length she blush'd a sweet consent, 

And love was aye between them twa. 



WHISTLE OWRE THE LAVE O'T. 

First when Maggie was my care, 
Heaven, I thought, was in her air; 
Now we're married — spier nae mair — 

Whistle owre the lave o't. 
Meg was meek, and Meg was mild, 
Bonnie Meg was nature's child — 
Wiser men than me's beguil'd — 

Whistle owre the lave o't. 

How we live, my Meg and me, 
How we love and how we 'gree, 
I care na by how few may see — 

Whistle owre the lave o't. 
Wha I wish were maggots' meat, 
Dish'd up in her winding sheet, 
I could write — but Meg maun see't — ■ 

Whistle owre the lave o't. 



i*3 



JOHN ANDERSON MY JO. 

John Anderson my jo, John, 

When we were first acquent, 
Your locks were like the raven, 

Your bonnie brow was brent ; 
But now your brow is beld, John, 

Your locks are like the snaw ; 
Yet blessings on your frosty pow, 

John Anderson my jo. 

John Anderson my jo, John, 

We clamb the hill thegither ; 
And monie a canty day, John, 

We've had wi' ane anither : 
Now we maun totter down, John, 

But hand in hand we'll go, 
And sleep thegither at the foot, 

John Anderson my jo. 



O, WERE I ON PARNASSUS' HILL ! 

[THIS SONG WAS WRITTEN IN HONOUR OF MRS. BURNS.] 

O, were I on Parnassus' hill ! 
Or had of Helicon my fill ; 
That I might catch poetic skill, 

To sing how dear I love thee. 
But Nith maun be my Muse's well, 
My Muse maun be thy bonnie sel'; 
On Corsincon I'll glow'r and spell, 

And write how dear I love thee ! 



164 O, WERE I ON PARNASSUS' HILL ! 

Then come, sweet Muse, inspire my lay ! 
For a' the lee-lang simmer's day, 
I couldna sing, I couldna say, 

How much, how dear I love thee. 
I see thee dancing o'er the green, 
Thy waist sae jimp, thy limbs sae clean, 
Thy tempting lips, thy roguish een — 

By Heaven and earth I love thee ! 

By night, by day, a-field, at hame, 

The thoughts o' thee my breast inflame ; 

And aye I muse and sing thy name, 

I only live to love thee. 
Tho' I were doom'd to wander on, 
Beyond the sea, beyond the sun, 
Till my last weary sand was run ; 

Till then — and then I'd love thee. 




HAD I A CAVE. 

Had T a cave on some wild, distant shore, 
Where the winds howl to the waves' dashing roar. 

There would I weep my woes, 

There seek my lost repose, 

Till grief my eyes should close, 
Ne'er to wake more. 

Falsest of womankind, canst thou declare, 
All thy fond plighted vows — fleeting as air? 

To thy new lover hie, 

Laugh o'er thy perjury, 

Then in thy bosom try 
What peace is there ! 




WHISTLE, AND I'LL COME TO YOU, MY LAD. 



O whistle, and Fll come to you, my lad; 
O whistle, and Fll come to you, my lad: 
Though father and mither and cC should gae mad, 
O whistle, and Fll come to you, my lad. 



I 66 WHISTLE, AND I'LL COME TO YOU, MY LAD. 

But warily tent, when ye come to court me, 
And come na unless the back-yett be a-jee ; 
Syne up the back-stile, and let naebody see, 
And come as ye were na comin' to me. 
And come, &c. 

O whistle, &*c. 

At kirk, or at market, whene'er you meet me, 
Gang by me as though that ye cared na a flie 
But steal me a blink o' your bonnie black e'e, 
Yet look as ye were na looking at me. 
Yet look, &c. 

O whistle, &>c. 

Aye vow and protest that ye care na for me, 
And whyles ye may lightly my beauty a wee ; 
But court na anither, though jokin' ye be, 
For fear that she wyle your fancy frae me. 
For fear, &c. 

O whistle, &c. 



MEIKLE THINKS MY LUVE. 
Tune— "My Tocher's the Jewel. " 

O meikle thinks my luve o' my beauty, 

And meikle thinks my luve o' my kin ; 
But little thinks my luve I ken brawlie, 

My tocher's the jewel has charms for him. 
It 's a' for the apple he '11 nourish the tree ; 

It 's a' for the hiney he'll cherish the bee ; 
My laddie's sae meikle in luve wi' the siller, 

He canna ha'e luve to spare for me. 



MEIKLE THINKS MY LUVE. 1 67 

Your proffer o' luve's an airl-penny, 

My tocher's the bargain ye wad buy ; 
But an ye be crafty, I am cunnin', 

Sae ye wi' anither your fortune maun try. 
Ye 're like to the timmer o' yon rotten wood, 

Ye 're like to the bark o' yon rotten tree, 
Ye '11 slip frae me like a knotless thread, 

An' ye '11 crack your credit wi' mae nor me. 



YON WILD MOSSY MOUNTAINS. 

Yon wild mossy mountains sae lofty and wide, 
That nurse in their bosom the youth o' the Clyde, 
Where the grouse lead their coveys through the heather 

to feed, 
And the shepherd tents his flock as he pipes on his reed : 

Not Gowrie's rich valley, nor Forth's sunny shores, 
To me hae the charms o' yon wild, mossy moors ; 
For there, by a lanely, sequester'd, clear stream, 
Resides a sweet lassie, my thought and my dream. 

Amang thae wild mountains shall still be my path, 
Ilk stream foaming down its ain green, narrow strath; 
For there, wi' my lassie, the day lang I rove, 
While o'er us, unheeded, fly the swift hours o' love. 

She is not the fairest, altho' she is fair; 
O' nice education but sma' is her share ; 
Her parentage humble as humble can be ; 
But I lo'e the dear lassie because she lo'es me. 



1 68 YON WILD MOSSY MOUNTAINS. 

To beauty what man but maun yield him a prize 
In her armour of glances, and blushes, and sighs 1 
And when wit and refinement ha'e polish'd her darts, 
They dazzle her een, as they fly to our hearts. 

But kindness, sweet kindness, in the fond sparkling ee, 
Has lustre outshining the diamond to me ; 
And the heart-beating love, as I'm clasp'd in her arms, 
O, these are my lassie's all-conquering charms ! 



GANE IS THE DAY. 

Tune — " Guidwife, count the la/win. " 

Gane is the day, and mirk's the night, 
But we'll ne'er stray for faute o' light, 
For ale and brandy's stars and moon, 
And bluid-red wine's the risin' sun. 

Then guidwife, count the lawin, 

The lawin, the lawi?t, 
Then guidwife, count the lawin, 

And bring a coggie mair. 

There's wealth and ease for gentlemen, 
And semple-folk maun fecht and fen', 
But here we're a' in ae accord, 
For ilka man that's drunk's a lord. 
Then guidwife, &c. 

My coggie is a haly pool, 
That heals the wounds o ? care and dool ; 
And pleasure is a wanton trout, 
An' ye drink deep ye'll find him out. 
Then guidwife, &c. 



169 



THERE'LL NEVER BE PEACE. 

By yon castle wa', at the close of the day, 
I heard a man sing, though his head it was grey ; 
And as he was singing the tears fast down came — 
There'll never be peace till Jamie comes hame. 

The church is in ruins, the state is in jars, 
Delusions, oppressions, and murderous wars ; 
We dare na weel say't, but we ken wha's to blame- 
There '11 never be peace till Jamie comes hame. 

My seven braw sons for Jamie drew sword, 
And now I greet round their green beds in the yerd 
It brak the sweet heart o' my faithfu' auld dame — 
There'll never be peace till Jamie comes hame. 

Now life is a burden that sair bows me down, 
Sin' I tint my bairns, and he tint his crown ; 
But till my last moment my words are the same — 
There '11 never be peace till Jamie comes hame. 



I DO CONFESS THOU ART SAE FAIR. 
I do confess thou art sae fair, 



I wad been o'er the lugs in luve; 
Had I "na found the slightest prayer 

That lips could speak, thy heart could muve. 

I do confess thee sweet, but find 

Thou art sae thriftless o' thy sweets, 
z 



170 I DO CONFESS THOU ART SAE FAIR. 

Thy favours are the silly wind 
That kisses ilka thing it meets. 

See yonder rose-bud, rich in dew, 
Amang its native briers sae coy, 

How soon it tines its scent and hue 
When pu'd and worn a common toy ! 

Sic fate ere lang shall thee betide, 

Though thou may gaily bloom a while ; 

Yet soon thou shalt be thrown aside, 
Like ony common weed and vile. 






THE BONNIE WEE THING. 

Bonnie wee thing, cannie wee thing, 
Lovely wee thing, wast thou mine, 

I wad wear thee in my bosom, 
Lest my jewel I should tine. 

Wistfully I look and languish 
In that bonnie face o' thine ; 

And my heart it stounds wi' anguish, 
Lest my wee thing be na mine. 

Wit, and grace, and love, and beauty 

In ae constellation shine ; 
To adore thee is my duty, 

Goddess o' this soul o' mine ! 

Bonnie wee thing, cannie wee thing, 
Lovely wee thing, wast thou mine, 

I wad wear thee in my bosom, 
Lest my jewel I should tine. 




THE BRAES O' BALLOCHMYLE. 



Air — "Miss Forbes." 



The Catrine woods were yellow seen, 
The flowers decay'd on Catrine lee, 

Nae lav'rock sang on hillock green, 
But nature sicken'd on the ee. 



172 THE BRAES O BALLOCHMYLE. 

Thro' faded groves Maria sang, 

Hersel' in beauty's bloom the while, 

And aye the wild-wood echoes rang, 
Fareweel the braes o' Ballochmyle. 

Low in your wintry beds, ye flowers, 

Again ye '11 flourish fresh and fair ; 
Ye birdies dumb, in with'ring bowers, 

Again ye '11 charm the vocal air. 
But here, alas ! for me nae mair 

Shall birdie charm, or floweret smile ; 
Fareweel the bonnie banks of Ayr, 

Fareweel, fareweel ! sweet Ballochmyle. 




BESSY AND HER SPINNING-WHEEL, 

Tune — " The szveet lass that Ides me" 

O leeze me on my spinning-wheel, 

leeze me on my rock and reel ; 
Frae tap to tae that deeds me bien, 
And haps me fiel and warm at e'en ! 

1 '11 set me down and sing and spin, 
While laigh descends the simmer sun, 
Blest wi' content, and milk and meal— 
O leeze me on my spinning-wheel. 

On ilka hand the burnies trot, 
And meet below my theekit cot ; 
The scented birk and hawthorn white 
Across the pool their arms unite, 



BESSY AND HER SPINNING-WHEEL. 173 

Alike to screen the birdie's nest, 



And little fishes' caller rest ; 

The sun blinks kindly in the biel' 

Where blithe I turn my spinning-wheel. 

On lofty aiks the cushats wail, 
And echo cons the doolfu' tale ; 
The lintwhites in the hazel braes, 
Delighted, rival ither's lays : 
The craik amang the claver hay, 
The paitrick whirrin' o'er the ley, 
The swallow jinkin' round my shiel, 
Amuse me at my spinning-wheel. 

Wi' sraa' to sell, and less to buy, 

Aboon distress, below en?% 

O wha would leave this humble state, 

For a' the pride of a' the great 1 

Amid their flaring, idle toys, 

Amid their cumbrous, dinsome joys, 

Can they the peace and pleasure feel 

Of Bessy at her spinning-wheel ? 



AE FOND KISS. 

Tune—" Rory Ball's port " 

Ae fond kiss, and then we sever ! 
Ae fareweel, alas, for ever ! 
Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee, 
Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee, 
Who shall say that Fortune grieves him, 
While the star of hope she leaves him ? 
Me, nae cheerfu' twinkle lights me ; 
Dark despair around benights me. 



174 AE FOND KISS. 

I'll ne'er blame my partial fancy, 
Naething could resist my Nancy : 
But to see her, was to love her ; 
Love but her, and love for ever. 
Had we never loved sae kindly, 
Had we never loved sae blindly, 
Never met — or never parted, 
We had ne'er been broken-hearted. 

Fare thee weel, thou first and fairest ! 
Fare thee weel, thou best and dearest ! 
Thine be ilka joy and treasure, 
Peace, enjoyment, love, and pleasure ! 
Ae fond kiss, and then we sever ! 
Ae fareweel, alas for ever ! 
Deep in heart-wrung tears I '11 pledge thee, 
Warring sighs and groans I '11 wage thee. 




O LUVE WILL VENTURE IN. 

Tune—" The Posit." 

O luve will venture in where it daurna weel be seen, 
O luve will venture in where wisdom ance has been ; 
But I will down yon river rove, amang the woods sae 
green, 
And a' to pu' a posie to my ain dear May. 

The primrose I will pu', the firstling o' the year, 
And I will pu' the pink, the emblem o' my dear, 
For she's the pink o' womankind, and blooms without a 
peer; 
And a' to be a posie to my ain dear May. 



O LUVE WILL VENTURE IN. 1 75 

I'll pu' the budding rose, when Phoebus peeps in view, 
For it's like a baumy kiss o' her sweet bonnie mou' ; 
The hyacinth's for constancy, wi' its unchanging blue, 
And a' to be a posie to my ain dear May. 

The lily it is pure, and the lily it is fair, 
And in her lovely bosom I'll place the lily there; 
The daisy's for simplicity and unaffected air, 
And a' to be a posie to my ain dear May. 

The hawthorn I will pu', wi' its locks o' siller grey, 
Where, like an aged man, it stands at break o' day; 
But the songster's nest within the bush I winna take 
away ; 
And a' to be a posie to my ain dear May. 

The woodbine I will pu' when the e'ening star is near, 
And the diamond drops o' dew shall be her een sae 

clear : 
The violet's for modesty which weel she fa's to wear, 
And a' to be a posie to my ain dear May. 

I'll tie the posie round wi' the silken band o' luve, 
And I'll place it in her breast, and I'll swear by a' 

above, 
That to my latest draught o' life the band shall ne'er 
remuve, 
And this will be a posie to my ain dear May. 



ftef 




WHAT CAN A YOUNG LASSIE. 

What can a young lassie, what shall a young lassie, 
What can a young lassie do wi' an auld man? 

Bad luck on the penny that tempted my minnie 
To sell her poor Jenny for siller an' Ian' ! 



He's always compleenin' frae mornin' to e'enin', 
He hoasts and he hirples the weary day lang, 

He's doylt and he's dozen, his bluid it is frozen. 
O, dreary 's the night wi' a crazy auld man ! 



WHAT CAN A YOUNG LASSIE. I 77 

He hums and he hankers, he frets and he cankers, 
I never can please him, do a' that I can ; 

He's peevish and jealous of a' the young fellows : 
O, dool on the day I met wi' an auld man ! 

My auld auntie Katie upon me takes pity, 
I '11 do my endeavour to follow her plan ; 

I'll cross him, and rack him, until I heart-break him, 
And then his auld brass will buy me a new pan. 



NAEBODY. 

I ha'e a wife o' my ain, 
I '11 partake wi' naebody ; 

I '11 tak' cuckold frae nane, 
I'll gie cuckold to naebody. 

I ha'e a penny to spend, 
There — thanks to naebody ; 

I ha'e nothing to lend, 
I '11 -borrow frae naebody. 

I am naebody's lord, 

I '11 be slave to naebody ; 

I ha'e a guid braid sword, 
I '11 tak dunts frae naebody. 

I '11 be merry and free, 
I '11 be sad for naebody ; 

If naebody care for me, 
I '11 care for naebody. 

A A 



78 



SONG OF DEATH. 

Scene.— A field of battle. Time of the day— Evening. The wounded 
and dying of the victorious army are supposed to join in the follow- 
ing Song. 

Farewell, thou fair day, thou green earth, and ye skies, 

Now gay with the bright setting sun ! 
Farewell, loves, and friendships, ye dear, tender ties, 

Our race of existence is run ! 

Thou grim King of Terrors, thou life's gloomy foe, 

Go, frighten the coward and slave ; 
Go, teach them to tremble, fell tyrant ! but know, 

No terrors hast thou for the brave. 

Thou strik'st the dull peasant — he sinks in the dark, 

Nor saves e'en the wreck of a name ; 
Thou strik'st the young hero — a glorious mark ! 

He falls in the blaze of his fame. 

In the field of proud honour — our swords in our hands 

Our King and our Country to save — 
While victory shines on life's last ebbing sands, 

O ! who would not rest with the brave ! 



fUJ;^ 



AS I WAS A-WANDERING. 

[This is an old Highland air, and the title means "My Love did 
deceive me." There is much feeling expressed in this song."] 

Tune — " Rinn Meudial mo Mhealladh." 

As I was a-wand'ring ae midsummer e'enin', 

The pipers and youngsters were making their game ; 

Amang them I spied my faithless fause lover, 
Which bled a' the wounds o' my dolour again. 




AS I WAS A-WANDERING. 1)9 

Weel, since he has left me, may pleasure gae wi' him ; 

I may be distress'd, but I winna complain ; 
I flatter my fancy I may get anither, 

My heart it shall never be broken for ane. 

I couldna get sleeping till dawnin' for greetin', 

The tears trickled down like the hail and the ram. 

Had I na got greetin', my heart would ha'e broken, 
For, oh ! love forsaken 's a tormenting pain. 

Although he has left me for greed o' the siller, 
I dinna envy him the gains he can win ; 

I rather wad bear a' the lade o' my sorrow, 
Than ever ha'e acted sae faithless to him. 

Weel, since he has left me, may pleasure gae wi' him ; 

I may be distress'd, but I winna complain ; 
I flatter my fancy I may get anither, 

My heart it shall never be broken for ane. 



COUNTRY LASSIE. 
Tune — "John, come kiss me jiow." 

In simmer when the hay was mawn, 

And corn waved green in ilka field, 
While clover blooms white o'er the lea, 

And roses blaw in ilka bield ; 
Blithe Bessie in the milking shiel, 

Says, " I '11 be wed, come o't what will. 
Out spak' a dame in wrinkled eild, 

" O' guid advisement comes nae ill. 



l8o COUNTRY LASSIE. 

" It 's ye ha'e wooers mony a ane, 

And, lassie, ye're but young, ye ken ; 
Then wait a wee, and cannie wale 

A routine but, a routhie ben : 
There's Johnie o* the Buskie-glen, 

Fu' is his barn, fu' is his byre ; 
Tak' this frae me, my bonnie hen, 

It's plenty beets the luver's fire." 

" For Johnie o' the Buskie-glen 

I dinna care a single flie ; 
He lo'es sae well his craps and kye, 

He has na luve to spare for me : 
But blithe 's the blink o' Robie's e'e, 

And weel I wat he lo'es me dear ; 
Ae blink o' him I wad na'e gi'e 

For Buskie-glen and a' his gear." 

" O Thoughtless lassie ! life 's a faught ; 

The canniest gate* the strife is sair ; 
But aye fu'-han't is fechtin best, 

An hungry care 's an unco care : 
But some will spend, and some will spare, 

An' wilfu' folk maun ha'e their will ; 
Syne as ye brew, my maiden fair, 

Keep mind that ye maun drink the yill." 

" O, gear will buy me rigs o' land, 

And gear will buy me sheep and kye j 
But the tender heart o' leesome luve, 

The gowd and siller canna buy : 
We may be poor — Robie and I, 

Light is the burden luve lays on ; 
Content and luve bring peace and joy, 

What mair ha'e queens upon a throne ? " 



s 



m 




THE BANKS O' DOON. 



FIRST VERSION. 

TUNE — " Catharine Ogle." 

Ye flowery banks o' bonnie Doon, 
How can* ye blume sae fair ! 

How can ye chant, ye little birds, 
And I sae fu' o' care ! 



T02 the banks o doon. 

Thou 'It break my heart, thou bonnie bird, 
That sings upon the bough ; 

Thou minds me o' the happy days 
When my fause luve was true. 

Thou 'It break my heart, thou bonnie bird, 
That sings beside thy mate ; 

For sae I sat, and sae I sang, 
And wist na o'. my fate. 

Aft ha'e I roved by bonnie Doon, 
To see the woodbine twine, 

And ilka bird sang o' its luve, 
And sae did I o' mine. 

Wi' lightsome heart I pu'd a rose, 

Frae off its thorny tree, 
And my fause luver staw the rose, 

But left the thorn wi' me. 



THE BANKS O' DOON. 

SECOND VERSION. 

Tune — "Caledonian Hunt's Delight.'" 

Ye banks and braes o' bonnie Doon, 

How can ye bloom sae fresh and fair ! 
How can ye chant, ye little birds,- 

And I sae weary, fu' o' care ! 
Thou'lt break my heart, thou, warbling bird, 

That wantons through the flowering thorn ; 
Thou minds me o' departed joys, 

Departed — never to return. 



THE BANKS o' DOON. 1 83 

Oft ha'e I roved by bonnie Doon, 

To see the rose and woodbine twine ; 
And ilka bird sang o' its luve, 

And fondly sae did I o' mine. 
Wi' lightsome heart I pu'd a rose, 

Fu' sweet upon its thorny tree : 
But my false luver stole my rose, 

And ah ! he left the thorn wi' me. 






FAIR ELIZA. 

Tune — " The bonnie brucket Lassie."] 

Turn again, thou fair Eliza, 

Ae kind blink before we part, 
Rew on thy despairing lover ! 

Canst thou break his faithfu' heart % 
Turn again, thou fair Eliza ; 

If to love thy heart denies, 
For pity hide the cruel sentence 

Under friendship's kind disguise ! 

Thee, dear maid, ha'e I offended 1 

The offence is loving thee : 
Canst thou wreck his peace for ever, 

Wha for thine would gladly die 1 
While the life beats in my bosom, 

Thou shalt mix in ilka throe : 
Turn again, thou lovely maiden, 

Ae sweet smile on me bestow. 



184 FAIR ELIZA. 

Not the bee upon the blossom, 

In the pride o' sunny noon ; 
Not the little sporting fairy, 

All beneath the simmer moon ; 
Not the poet in the moment 

Fancy lightens in his e'e, 
Kens the pleasure, feels the rapture, 

That thy presence gi'es to me. 



^M? 



JOCKEY'S TA'EN THE PARTING KISS. 

Jockey 's ta'en the parting kiss, 
Owre the mountains he is gane, 

And with him is a' my bliss, 

Nought but griefs with me remain. 

Spare my love, ye winds that blaw, 
Plashy sleets and beatin' rain ! 

Spare my love, thou feathery snaw, 
Drifting owre the frozen plain i 

When the shades of evening creep 
Owre the day's fair, gladsome ee, 

Sound and safely may he sleep, 
Sweetly blythe his waukening be ! 

He will think on her he loves, 
Fondly he '11 repeat her name ; 

For where'er he distant roves, 
Jockey's heart is still at hame. 



CHLORIS. 

Tune — "My lodging is on the cold ground.''' 

My Chloris, mark how green the groves, 

The primrose banks how fair : 
The balmy gales awake the flowers, 

And wave thy flaxen hair. 

The lav'rock shuns the palace gay, 

And o'er the cottage sings : 
For nature smiles as sweet, I ween, 

To shepherds as to kings. 

Let minstrels sweep the skilfu' string 

In lordly lighted ha' : 
The shepherd stops his simple reed, 

Blithe, in the birken shaw. 

The princely revel may survey 

Our rustic dance wi' scorn ; 
But are their hearts as light as ours 

Beneath the milk-white thorn 1 

The shepherd, in the flowery glen, 
In shepherd's phrase will woo ; 

The courtier tells a finer tale, 
But is his heart as true 1 

These wild-wood flowers I've pu'd, to deck 

That spotless breast o' thine : 
The courtiers' gems may witness love — 

But 'tis na love like mine. 

B B 




HIGHLAND MARY. 



Ye banks, and braes, and streams around 

The castle o' Montgomery, 
Green be your woods, and fair your flowers, 

Your waters never drumlie ! 



HIGHLAND MARY. 1 87 

There simmer first unfauld her robes, 

And there the langest tarry ; 
For there I took the last fareweel 

O' my sweet Highland Mary. 

How sweetly bloom'd the gay green birk, 

How rich the hawthorn's blossom, 
As underneath their fragrant shade 

I clasp'd her to my bosom ! 
The golden hours, on angel wings, 

Flew o'er me and my dearie ; 
For dear to me, as light and life, 

Was my sweet Highland Mary. 

Wi' mony a vow, and lock'd embrace, 

Our parting was fu' tender ; 
And, pledging aft to meet again, 

We tore oursel's asunder ; 
But oh ! fell death's untimely frost, 

That nipt my flower sae early! — 
Now green 's the sod, and cauld 's the clay, 

That wraps my Highland Mary. 

O pale, pale now, those rosy lips 

I aft ha'e kiss'd sae fondly ! 
And closed for aye the sparkling glance, 

That dwelt on me sae kindly ! 
And mouldering now in silent dust, 

That heart that lo'ed me dearly ! 
But still within my bosom's core 

Shall live my Highland Mary. 



i88 



O FOR ANE-AND-TWENTY, TAM. 

An" O for ane-and-twenty, Tarn I 

An' hey, sweet ane-and-twenty, Tarn ! 

rtl learn my kin a rattlirC sang, 
An I saw ane-and-twenty, Tarn. 

They snool me sair, and haud me down, 
And gar me look like bluntie, Tam ! 

But three short years will soon wheel roun' 
And then comes ane-and-twenty, Tam ! 

A gleib o' Ian', a claut o' gear, 
Was left me by my aunty, Tam : 

At kith or kin I need na spier, 
An I saw ane-and-twenty, Tam. 

They'll ha'e me wed a wealthy coof, 
Tho' I mysel' ha'e plenty, Tam : 

But hear'st thou, laddie? there's my loof, 
I'm thine at ane-and-twenty, Tam ! 



HOW CAN I BE BLITHE AND GLAD. 

Tune — "Over the hills and far awa'." 

O how can I be blithe and glad, 
Or how can I gang brisk and braw, 

When the bonnie lad that I lo'e best 
Is o'er the hills and far awa? 

It's no the frosty winter wind, 

It 's no the driving drift and snaw ; 



HOW CAN I BE BLITHE AND GLAD. 1 89 

But aye the tear comes in my e'e, 
To think on him that 's far awa'. 

My father pat me frae his door, 

My friends they ha'e disown'd me a', 

But I ha'e ane will tak my part, 
The bonnie lad that's far awa'. 

A pair o' gloves he gave to me, 

And silken snoods he gave me twa ; 

And I will wear them for his sake, 
The bonnie lad that's far awa'. 

The weary winter soon will pass, 

And spring will deed the birken-shaw ; 

And my sweet babie will be born, 
And he'll come hame that's far awa'. 



AULD ROB MORRIS. 

There's auld Rob Morris that wons in yon glen, 
He 's the king o' guid fellows and wale of auld men ; 
He has gowd in his coffers, he has owsen and kine, 
And ae bonnie lassie, his darling and mine. 

She 's fresh as the morning, the fairest in May ; 
She 's sweet as the evening amang the new hay ; 
As blithe and as artless as the lamb on the lea, 
And dear to my heart as the light to my e'e. 

But oh ! she's an heiress, auld Robin's a laird, 
And my daddie has nought but a cot-house and yard ; 



190 AULD ROB MORRIS. 

A wooer like me maunna hope to come speed, 
The wounds I must hide that will soon be my dead. 

The day comes to me but delight brings me nane ; 
The night comes to me, but my rest it is gane ; 
I wander my lane like a night-troubled ghaist, 
And I sigh as my heart it would burst in my breast. 

had she but been of a lower degree, 

1 then might ha'e hoped she wad smil'd upon me ! 
O, how past describing had then been my bliss, 
As now my distraction no words can express ! 




MY HEART'S IN THE HIGHLANDS. 

My heart 's in the Highlands, my heart is not here ; 
My heart 's in the Highlands a chasing the deer ; 
Chasing the wild deer, and following the roe, 
My heart's in the Highlands wherever I go. 
Farewell to the Highlands, farewell to the North, 
The birth-place of valour, the country of worth ; 
Wherever I wander, wherever I rove, 
The hills of the Highlands for ever I love. 

Farewell to the mountains high cover'd with snow ; 
Farewell to the straths and green valleys below; 
Farewell to the forests and wild-hanging woods; 
Farewell to the torrents and loud-pouring floods. 
My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here ; 
My heart's in the Highlands a chasing the deer; 
Chasing the wild deer, and following the roe, 
My heart's in the Highlands, wherever I go. 




O POORTITH CAULD. 

Tune — ' ' I had a horse. " 

O poortith cauld, and restless love, 
Ye wreck my peace between ye ; 

Yet poortith a' I could forgive, 
An twere na for my Jeanie. 



O why should Fate sic pleasure have, 
Life's dearest bands untwining ? 

Or why sae sweet a flower as love 
Depend on Fortune's shining ? 



192 O POORTITH CAULD. 

This warld's wealth when I think on, 
Its pride, and a' the lave o't ; 

Fie, fie on silly coward man, 
That he should be the slave o't. 

Her een, sae bonnie blue, betray 
How she repays my passion ; 

But prudence is her o'erword aye, 
She talks of rank and fashion. 

O wha can prudence think upon, 

And sic a lassie by him ? 
O wha can prudence think upon, 

And sae in love as I am 1 

How blest the humble cotter's fate ! 

He woos his simple dearie ; 
The sillie bogles, wealth and state, 

Can never make them eerie. 

O why should Fate sic pleasure have, &>c. 



arc. 



BONNIE BELL. 

The smiling Spring comes in rejoicing, 

And surly Winter grimly flies ; 
Now crystal clear are the falling waters, 

And bonnie blue are the sunny skies; 

Fresh o'er the mountains breaks forth the morning, 
The ev'ning gilds the ocean's swell ; 



BONNIE BELL. 193 

All creatures joy in the sun's returning, 
And I rejoice in my bonnie Bell. 

The flowery Spring leads sunny Summer, 

And yellow Autumn presses near, 
Then in his turn comes gloomy Winter, 

Till smiling Spring again appear. 
Thus seasons dancing, life advancing, 

Old Time and Nature their changes tell, 
But never ranging, still unchanging, 

I adore my bonnie Bell. 




THE GALLANT WEAVER. 

Where Cart rins rowin' to the sea, 
By monie a flow'r, and spreading tree, 
There lives a lad, the lad for me, 
He is a gallant weaver. 

Oh ! I had wooers eight or nine, 
They gi'ed me rings and ribbons fine ; 
And I was fear'd my heart would tine, 
And gi'ed it to the weaver. 

My daddie sign'd my tocher band, 
To gi'e the lad that has the land ; 
But to my heart I'll add my hand, 
And gi'e it to the weaver. 

While birds rejoice in leafy bowers ; 
While bees rejoice in opening flowers ; 
While corn grows green in simmer showers, 
I '11 love my gallant weaver, 
c c 



194 



SHE'S FAIR AND FAUSE. 

She's fair and fause that causes my smart, 

I lo'ed her meikle and lang ; 
She's broken her vow, she's broken my heart, 

And I may e'en gae hang. 
A coof came in with rowth o' gear, 
And I ha'e tint my dearest dear ; 
But woman is but warld's gear, 

Sae let the bonnie lass gang. 

Whae'er ye be that woman love, 

To this be never blind, 
Nae ferlie 'tis though fickle she prove, 

A woman has 't by kind : 
O woman lovely, woman fair ! 
An angel form's faun to thy share, 
'Twad been owre meikle to've gi'en thee mair- 

I mean an angel mind. 




THE EXCISEMAN. 

The de'il cam' fiddling through the town, 
And danced awa' wi' the Exciseman ; 

And ilka wife cried — " Auld Mahoun, 
I wish you luck o' your prize, man ! 

The deHVs awa\ the diiVs awa\ 
The diWs awcC w? the Exciseman : 

He's danced awa\ his danced awa,' 
He's danced awa' m? the Exciseman. 



THE EXCISEMAN. 1 95 

" We'll mak' our maut, we '11 brew our drink, 
We'll dance, and sing, and rejoice, man; 
And monie thanks to the meikle black de'il 
That danced awa' wi' the Exciseman. 

" There 's threesome reels, there 's foursome reels, 
There's hornpipes and strathspeys, man ; 
But the ae best dance e'er cam' to the land 
Was — the de'il 's awa' wi' the Exciseman." 




THE CHEVALIER'S LAMENT. 

Tune — "Captain O'Kane." 

The small birds rejoice in the green leaves returning, 
The murmuring streamlet winds clear thro' the vale ; 

The hawthorn trees blow in the dews of the morning, 
And wild scattered cowslips bedeck the green dale : 

But what can give pleasure, or what can seem fair, 

While the lingering moments are numbered by care 1 
No flowers gaily springing, nor birds sweetly singing, 

Can soothe the sad bosom of joyless despair. 

The deed that I dared, could it merit their malice, 
A king and a father to place on his throne % 

His right are these hills and his right are these valleys 
Where the wild beasts find shelter, but I can find none. 

But 'tis not my sufferings thus wretched, forlorn, 

My brave gallant friends, 'tis your ruin I mourn : 
Your deeds proved so loyal in hot bloody trial, 

Alas ! can I make you no sweeter return % 




THE BANKS OF NITH. 



Tune — " Robie Donna GoracA." 



The Thames flows proudly to the sea; 

Where royal cities stately stand ; 
But sweeter flows the Nith to me, 

Where Cummins ance had high command 
When shall I see that honour'd land, 

That winding stream I love so dear? 
Must wayward fortune's adverse hand, 

For ever, ever keep me here ? 



THE BANKS OF NITH. 1 97 

How lovely, Nith, thy fruitful vales, 

Where spreading hawthorns gaily bloom ; 
How sweetly wind thy sloping dales, 

Where lambkins wanton through the broom ! 
Though wandering, now, must be my doom, 

Far from thy bonnie banks and braes, 
May there my latest hours consume, 

Amang the friends of early days ! 



A RED, RED ROSE. 

Tune — " Wishaw's Favourite." 

O, my luve's like a red, red rose, 
That 's newly sprung in June : 

O, my luve's like the melodie 
That 's sweetly play'd in tune. 

As fair art thou, my bonnie lass, 

So deep in luve am I : 
And I will luve thee still, my dear, 

Till a' the seas gang dry. 

Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear, 
And the rocks melt wi' the sun : 

I will luve thee still, my dear, 
While the sands o' life shall run. 

And fare thee weel, my only luve ! 

And fare thee weel awhile ! 
And I will come again, my luve, 

Though it were ten thousand mile. 



ip8 



THE BATTLE OF CULLODEN. 

The lovely lass o' Inverness, 

Nae joy nor pleasure can she see ; 
For e'en and morn she cries — "Alas!" 

And aye the saut tear blin's her e'e : 
"Drumossie moor, Drumossie day, 

A waefu' day it was to me ; 
For there I lost my father dear, 

My father dear, and brethren three. 

" Their winding-sheet the bluidy clay, 

Their graves are growing green to see j 
And by them lies the dearest lad 

That ever blest a woman's ee. 
Now wae to thee, thou cruel Lord ! 

A bluidy man I trow thou be ; 
For monie a heart thou hast made sair, 

That ne'er did wrong to thine or thee." 






FOR THE SAKE OF SOMEBODY. 

Tune — " The Highland Watch's Farewell." 

My heart is sair, I darena tell, 

My heart is sair for somebody ; 
I could wake a winter night 
For the sake o' somebody. 
Oh-hon ! for somebody ! 
Oh-hey ! for somebody ! 
I could range the world around, 
For the sake o' somebody ! 




FOR THE SAKE OF SOMEBODY. 1 99 

Ye powers that smile on virtuous love, 

O, sweetly smile on somebody ! 
Frae ilka danger keep him free, 
And send me safe my somebody. 
Oh-hon ! for somebody ! 
Oh-hey ! for somebody ! 
I wad do — what wad I not 1 
For the sake o' somebody ! 



POLLY STEWART. 

Tune — " Ye re welcome, Charlie Stewart.''' 

O lovely Polly Stewart, 

O charming Polly Stewart, 
There 's ne'er a flower that blooms in May 

That 's half so fair as thou art. 

The flower it blaws, it fades, it fa's, 

And art can ne'er renew it ; 
But worth and truth eternal youth 

Will gi'e to Polly Stewart. 

May he whase arms shall fauld thy charms 

Possess a leal and true heart ; 
To him be given to ken the heaven 

He grasps in Polly Stewart ! 

O lovely Polly Stewart, 

O charming Polly Stewart, 
There 's neer a flower that blooms in May 

That's half so fair as thou art. 



200 



TO THEE, LOVED NITH. 

To thee, lov'd Nith, thy gladsome plains 
Where late wi' careless thought I ranged, 

Tho' prest wi' care and sunk in woe, 
To thee I bring a heart unchanged. 

I love thee, Nith, thy banks and braes, 
Tho' mem'ry there my bosom tear ; 

For there he roved that brake my heart, 
Yet to that heart, ah ! still how dear ! 




O MAY, THY MORN. 

O May, thy morn was ne'er sae sweet 

As the mirk night o' December ; 
For sparkling was the rosy wine, 

And private was the chamber : 
And dear was she I darena name, 

But I will aye remember ; 
And dear was she I darena name, 

But I will aye remember. 

And here 's to them, that like oursel', 

Can push about the jorum ; 
And here's to them that wish us weel, 

May a' that 's guid watch o'er them ! 
And here's to them, we darena tell, 

The dearest o' the quorum ; 
And here's to them, we darena tell, 

The dearest o' the quorum ! 




PJIILLIS THE FAIR. 



Tune — ' ' Robin Adah 



While larks with little wing 

Fann'd the pure air, 
Tasting the breathing spring, 

Forth I did fare : 
Gay the sun's golden eye 
Peep'd o'er the mountains high 
Such thy morn ! did I cry, 

Phillis the fair. 



PHILLIS THE FAIR. 

In each bird's careless song, 

Glad did I share ; 
While yon wild flow'rs among, 

Chance led me there : 
Sweet to the opening day, 
Rosebuds bent the dewy spray 
Such thy bloom ! did I say, 

Phillis the fair. 

Down in a shady walk, 

Doves cooing were, 
I mark'd the cruel hawk 

Caught in a snare : 
So kind may Fortune be, 
Such make his destiny, 
He who would injure thee, 

Phillis the fair. 




O, WAT YE WHA'S IN YON TOWN. 

Tune — " I'll gang nae mair to yon town." 

O, wat ye wha's in yon town, 
Ye see the e'enin' sun upon ? 

The fairest dame's in yon town, 
That e'enin' sun is shining on. 

Now haply down yon gay green shaw, 
She wanders by yon spreading tree ; 

How blest, ye flow'rs that round her blaw, 
Ye catch the glances o' her e'e ! 



O, WAT YE WHA'S IN YON TOWN. 203 

How blest, ye birds that round her sing, 
And welcome in the blooming year ; 

And doubly welcome be the spring, 
The season to my Lucy dear ! 

The sun blinks blithe on yon town, 

And on yon bonnie braes of Ayr ; 
But my delight in yon town, 
■ And dearest bliss, is Lucy fair. 

Without my love, not a' the charms 

O' Paradise could yield me joy ; 
But gi'e me Lucy in my arms, 

And welcome Lapland's dreary sky. 

My cave wad be a lover's bower, 

Tho' raging winter rent the air ; 
And she a lovely little flower, 

That I wad tent and shelter there. 

sweet is she in yon town, 

Yon sinking sun's gaun down upon ; 
A fairer than's in yon town, 

His setting beam ne'er shone upon. 

If angry Fate is sworn my foe, 

And surT'ring I am doom'd to bear ; 

1 careless quit all else below, 

But spare me, spare me Lucy dear ! 

For while life's dearest blood is warm, 
Ae thought frae her shall ne'er depart ; 

And she — as fairest is her form, 
She has the truest, kindest heart. 



204 



MY PEGGY'S FACE. 

My Peggy's face, my Peggy's form, 
The frost of hermit age might warm ; 
My Peggy's worth, my Peggy's mind, 
Might charm the first of human kind. 
I love my Peggy's angel air, 
Her face so truly, heavenly fair, 
Her native grace so void of art, 
But I adore my Peggy's heart. 

The lily's hue, the rose's dye, 
The kindling lustre of an eye ; 
Who but owns their magic sway, 
Who but knows they all decay ! 
The tender thrill, the pitying tear, 
The generous purpose, nobly dear, 
The gentle look that rage disarms — 
These are all immortal charms. 




THE WINSOME WEE THING. 

She is a winsome wee thing, 
She is a handsome wee thing, 
She is a bonnie wee thing, 
This sweet wee wife o' mine. 

I never saw a fairer, 

I never lo'ed a dearer, 

And niest my heart I'll wear her, 

For fear my jewel tine. 



THE WINSOME WEE THING. 205 

She is a winsome wee thing, 
She is a handsome wee thing, 
She is a bonnie wee thing, 
This sweet wee wife o' mine. 

The warld's wrack we share o't, 
The warstle and the care o 't ; 
Wi' her I'll blithely bear it, 
And think my lot divine. 



LASSIE wr THE LINT-WHITE LOCKS. 

Tune — " Rothieniurchu's Rant. " 

Lassie wr the lint-white locks, 
Boiinie lassie, artless lassie, 

Wilt thou wV me tent the flocks, 
Wilt thou be my dearie, O ? 

Now nature deeds the flowery lea, 
And a' is young and sweet like thee ; 
O wilt thou share its joys wi' me, 
And say thou 'It be my dearie, O 1 

And when the welcome simmer-shower 
Has cheer'd ilk drooping little flower, 
We'll to the breathing woodbine bower 
At sultry noon, my dearie, O. 

When Cynthia lights, wi' silver ray, 
The weary shearer's hameward way; 
Through yellow waving fields we'll stray, 
And talk o' love, my dearie, O. 

And when the howling wintry blast 
Disturbs my lassie's midnight rest ; 



206 LASSIE Wl' THE LINT-WHITE LOCKS. 

Enclasped to my faithfu' breast, 
I'll comfort thee, my dearie, O. 

Lassie w? the lint-white locks, 
Bonnie lassie, artless lassie, 

Wilt thou w? me te?it the flocks, 
Wilt thou be my deai'ie, O ? 



MARY CAMPBELL. 

Tune — " Ewe-bughts, Marion. " 

Will ye go to the Indies, my Mary, 
And leave auld Scotia's shore 1 

Will ye go to the Indies, my Mary, 
Across th' Atlantic's roar ? 

sweet grow the lime and the orange, 
And the apple on the pine ; 

But a' the charms o' the Indies 
Can never equal thine. 

1 ha'e sworn by the heavens to my Mary, 
I ha'e sworn by the heavens to be true ; 

And sae may the heavens forget me, 
When I forget my vow ! 

O plight me your faith, my Mary, 
And plight me your lily-white hand ; 

O plight me your faith, my Mary, 
Before I leave Scotia's strand. 

We ha'e plighted our troth, my Mary, 

In mutual affection to join, 
And curst be the cause that shall part us ! 

The hour, and the moment o' time ! 




BANNOCKBURN. 

Tune — "Hey, tuttie, tuttie." 

Scots, wha ha'e wi' Wallace bled, 
Scots, wham Bruce has aften led ; 
Welcome to your gory bed, 
Or to glorious victorie ! 



208 BANNOCKBURN. 

Now's the day, and now's the hour; 
See the front o' battle lower ; 
See approach proud Edward's power- 
Edward ! chains and slaverie ! 

Wha will be a traitor knave 1 
Wha can fill a coward's grave 1 
Wha sae base as be a slave 1 
Traitor ! coward ! turn and flee ! 

Wha for Scotland's king and law 
Freedom's sword will strongly draw, 
Free-man stand, or free-man fa', 
Caledonian ! on with me ! 

By oppression's woes and pains ! 
By your sons in servile chains ! 
We will drain our dearest veins, 
But they shall — they shall be free. 

Lay the proud usurpers low ! 
Tyrants fall in every foe ! 
Liberty's in every blow ! 

Forward ! let us do, or die ! 




2og 



SHE SAYS SHE LO'ES ME BEST OF A' 
TUNE—" Onaghts Water-fall." 

Sae flaxen were her ringlets, 

Her eyebrows of a darker hue, 
Bewitchingly o'er-arching 

Twa laughing een o' bonnie blue. 
Her smiling, sae wyling, 

Wad make a wretch forget his woe ; 
What pleasure, what treasure, 

Unto these rosy lips to grow ! 
Such was my Chloris' bonnie face, 

When first her bonnie face I saw ; 
And aye my Chloris' dearest charm, 

She says she lo'es me best of a', 

Like harmony her motion; 

Her pretty ancle is a spy 
Betraying fair proportion, 

Wad mak a saint forget the sky ; 
Sae warming, sae charming, 

Her faultless form, and gracefu' air ; 
Ilk feature — auld Nature 

Declared that she could do nae mair. 
Hers are the willing chains o' love, 

By conquering beauty's sovereign law ; 
And aye my Chloris' dearest charm, 

She says she lo'es me best of a'. 

Let others love the city, 

And gaudy show at sunny noon ; 
Gi'e me the lonely valley, 

The dewy eve, and rising moon ; 
Fair beaming, and streaming, 

E E 



2IO SHE SAYS SHE LO'ES ME BEST OF a'. 

Her silver light the boughs amang ; 
While falling, recalling, 

The amorous thrush concludes his san^ 
There, dearest Chloris, wilt thou rove 

By wimpling burn and leafy shaw, 
And hear my vows o' truth and love, 

And sav thou lo'es me best of a'. 



GALLA-WATER. 

There's braw, braw lads on Yarrow braes, 
That wander through the blooming heather 

But Yarrow braes, nor Ettrick shaws, 
Can match the lads o' Galla-water. 

But there is ane, a secret ane, 
Aboon them a' I lo'e him better; 

And I'll be his, and he'll be mine, 
The bonnie lad o' Galla-water. 

Although his daddie was nae laird, 
And though I ha'e no meikle tocher ; . 

Yet rich in kindest, truest love, 

We'll tent our flocks by Galla-water. 

It ne'er was wealth, it ne'er was wealth, 
That coft contentment, peace, or pleasure ; 

The bands and bliss o' mutual love, 
O that's the chiefest warld's treasure! 



LOGAN BRAES. 

O Logan, sweetly didst thou glide, 
That day I was my Willie's bride ; 
And years sinsyne ha'e o'er us run, 
Like Logan to the simmer sun. 
But now thy flow'ry banks appear 
Like drumlie winter, dark and drear, 
While my dear lad maun face his faes, 
Far, far frae me and Logan braes. 

Again the merry month o' May 

Has made our hills and valleys gay ; 

The birds rejoice in leafy bow'rs, 

The bees hum round the breathing fiow'rs 

Blythe morning lifts his rosy eye, 

And ev'ning's tears are tears of joy : 

My soul, delightless, a' surveys, 

While Willie's far frae Logan braes. 

Within yon milk-white hawthorn bush, 
Amang her nestlings, sits the thrush ; 
Her faithfu' mate will share her toil, 
Or wi' his song her cares beguile : 
But I, wi' my sweet nurslings here, 
Nae mate to help, nae mate to cheer, 
Pass widow'd nights and joyless days, 
While Willie's far frae Logan braes. 

O wae upon you, men o' state, 
That brethren rouse to deadly hate ! 
As ye make monie a fond heart mourn, 
Sae may it on your heads return ! 
How can your flinty hearts enjoy 
The widow's tears, the orphan's cry ? 
But soon may peace bring happy days, 
And Willie hame to Logan braes ! 




SWEET CLOSES THE EVENING. 

Tune — " Craigie-burn-wood. " 

Beyond thee, dearie, beyond thee, dearie, 
And O to be lying beyond thee, 

O sweetly, soundly, weel may he sleep, 
That 's laid in the bed bevond thee. 



SWEET CLOSES THE EVENING. 213 

Sweet closes the evening on Craigie-burn-wood, 

And blythely awakens the morrow ; 
But the pride of the spring in the Craigie-burn-wood, 

Can yield to me nothing but sorrow. 

I see the spreading leaves and flowers, 

I hear the wild birds singing ; 
But pleasure they hae nane for me, 

While care my heart is wringing. 

I canna tell, I maun na tell, 

I dare na for your anger ; 
But secret love will break my heart 

If I conceal it langer. 

I see thee gracefu', straight and tall, 

I see thee sweet and bonnie, 
But oh, what will my torments be, 

If thou refuse thy Johnie ! 

To see thee in anither's arms, 

In love to lie and languish, 
'Twad be my dead, that will be seen, 

My heart wad burst wi' anguish. 

But, Jeanie, say thou wilt be mine, 

Say, thou lo'es nane before me ; 
An' a' my days o' life to come 

I'll gratefully adore thee. 




214 



OH ! OPEN THE DOOR TO ME. 

Oh ! open the door, some pity to show, 

Oh, open the door to me, O ! 
Though thou hast been false, I'll ever prove true, 

Oh, open the door to me, O ! 

Cauld is the blast upon my pale cheek, 

But caulder thy love for me, O ! 
The frost that freezes the life at my heart, 

Is nought to my pains frae thee, O ! 

The wan moon is setting behind the white wave, 

And time is setting with me, O ! 
False friends, false love, farewell ! for mair 

I'll ne'er trouble them, nor thee, O ! 

She has open'd the door, she has open'd it wide ; 
She sees his pale corse on the plain, O ! 
" My true love," she cried, and sank down by his side, 
Never to rise again, O ! 



WANDERING WILLIE. 

Here awa', there awa', wandering Willie, 
Here awa', there awa', haud awa' name ; 

Come to my bosom, my ain only dearie, 

Tell me thou bring'st me my Willie the same. 

Winter winds blew loud and cauld at our parting, 
Fears for my Willie brought tears in my e'e, 

Welcome now simmer, and welcome my Willie, 
The simmer to nature, my Willie to me. 



WANDERING WILLIE. 2 

Rest, ye wild storms, in the cave of your slumbers, 
How your dread howling a lover alarms ! 

Wauken, ye breezes, row gently, ye billows, 

And waft my dear laddie ance mair to my arms. 

But oh, if he 's faithless, and minds na his Nannie, 
Flow still between us, thou wide roaring main ; 

May I never see it, may I never trow it, 
But, dying, believe that my Willie's my ain. 



FRAGMENT. 

Air — ' ' Hugh ie Graham, ' ' 

O gin my love were yon red rose, 
That grows upon the castle wa', 

And I mysel' a drop o' dew, 
Into her bonnie breast to fa' ! 

Oh, there beyond expression blest, 
I'd feast on beauty a' the night ; 

Seal'd on her silk-saft faulds to rest, 
Till fley'd awa' by Phoebus' light. 

O were my love yon lilac fair, 

Wi' purple blossoms to the spring ; 

And I, a bird to shelter there, 
When wearied on my little wing : 

How I wad mourn, when it was torn 
By autumn wild, and winter rude ! 

But I wad sing on wanton wing, 

When youthfu' May its bloom renew'd. 



216 

ADOWN WINDING NITH. 

Tune — u The muckie o' Geordies Byre. " 

Adown winding Nith I did wander, 

To mark the sweet flowers as they spring ; 
Adown winding Nith I did wander, 
Of Phillis to muse and to sing. 

Awd w? your belles and your beauties, 

They never wf her can compare ; 
Whaever has met w? my Phillis, 
Has met w? the queen d the fair. 

The daisy amused my fond fancy, 

So artless, so simple, so wild ; 
Thou emblem, said I, o' my Phillis, 

For she is simplicity's child. 

The rose-bud 's the blush o' my charmer, 
Her sweet balmy lip when 'tis prest : 

How fair and how pure is the lily ! 
But fairer and purer her breast. 

Yon knot of gay flowers in the arbour, 
They ne'er wi' my Phillis can vie : 

Her breath is the breath o' the woodbine, 
Its dew-drop o' diamond, her eye. 

Her voice is the song of the morning, 

That wakes thro' the green-spreading grove, 

When Phoebus peeps over the mountains, 
On music, and pleasure, and love. 

But beauty, how frail and how fleeting, 
The bloom of a fine summer's day ! 

While worth in the mind o' my Phillis 
Will flourish without a decay. 



.mm 



-v: ' M 

'V 

;;; -'-JF 




LORD GREGORY. 



O mirk, mirk is this midnight hour, 
And loud the tempest's roar ; 

A waefu' wanderer seeks thy tow'r, 
Lord Gregory, ope thy door. 



2l8 LORD GREGORY. 

An exile frae her father's ha', 

And a' for loving thee ; 
At least some pity on me shaw, 

If love it may na be ! 

Lord Gregory, mind'st thou not the grove, 

By bonnie Irwin side, 
Where first I own'd that virgin-love 

I lang, lang had denied 1 

How aften didst thou pledge and vow, 
Thou wad for aye be mine ! 

And my fond heart, itsel' sae true, 
It ne'er mistrusted thine. 

Hard is thy heart, Lord Gregory, 

And flinty is thy breast : 
Thou dart of heaven, that flashest by, 

O wilt thou give me rest ! 

Ye mustering thunders from above, 

Your willing victim see ! 
But spare, and pardon my fause love, 

His wrangs to heaven and me ! 



JESSIE. 

Tune — "Bonnie Dundee.'" 

True-hearted was he, the sad swain o' the Yarrow, 
And fair are the maids on the banks o' the Ayr, 

But by the sweet side o' the Nith's winding river, 
Are lovers as faithful, and maidens as fair : 



JESSIE. 219 

To equal young Jessie seek Scotland all over ; 

To equal young Jessie you seek it in vain ; 
Grace, beauty, and elegance fetter her lover, 

And maidenly modesty fixes the chain. 

O, fresh is the rose in the gay, dewy morning, 

And sweet is the lily at evening close ; 
But in the fair presence o' lovely young Jessie, 

Unseen is the lily, unheeded the rose. 
Love sits in her smile, a wizard ensnaring ; 

Enthroned in her een he delivers his law, 
And still to her charms she alone is a stranger ! 

Her modest demeanour's the jewel of a\ 




MEG O' THE MILL. 

Air — " O bonnie lass, will you lie in a bai'rackl " 

O ken ye what Meg o' the Mill has gotten, 
An' ken ye what Meg o' the Mill has gotten % 
She has gotten a coof wi' a claut o' siller, 
And broken the heart o' the barley Miller. 

The Miller was strappin', the Miller was ruddy ; 
A heart like a lord, and a hue like a lady ; 
The Laird was a widdiefu', bleerit knurl ; 
She's left the guid fellow and ta'en the churl. 

The Miller he hecht her a heart leal and loving : 
The Laird did address her wi' matter mair moving, 
A fine pacing horse wi' a clear chained bridle 
A whip by her side, and a bonnie side-saddle. 



MEG O THE MILL. 



O wae on the siller, it is sae prevailing ; 
And wae on the love that is fix'd on a mailen ! 
A tocher's nae word in a true lover's parle, 
But, gi'e me my love, and a fig for the warl' ! 



BY ALLAN STREAM. 

By Allan stream I chanced to rove, 

While Phoebus sank beyond Benleddi ; 
The winds were whispering thro' the grove, 

The yellow corn was waving ready : 
I listen'd to a lover's sang, 

And thought on youthfu' pleasures mony ; 
And ay the wild-wood echoes ran — 

O, dearly do I love thee, Annie ! 

O, happy be the woodbine bower, 

Nae nightly bogle mak' it eerie ; 
Nor ever sorrow stain the hour, 

The place and time I met my dearie I 
Her head upon my throbbing breast, 

She, sinking, said, " I 'm thine for ever ! " 
While mony a kiss the seal imprest, 

The sacred vow, we ne'er should sever. 

The haunt o' spring's the primrose brae, 

The simmer joys the flocks to follow ; 
How cheery thro' her shortening day 

Is autumn, in her weeds o' yellow ! 
But can they melt the glowing heart, 

Or chain the soul in speechless pleasure, 
Or, thro' each nerve the rapture dart, 

Like meeting her, our bosom's treasure 1 



221 



AULD LANG SYNE. 

Should auld acquaintance be forgot, 

And never brought to min' 1 
Should auld acquaintance be forgot, 

And days o' lang syne 1 

For auld lang syne, my dear, 

For auld la fig syne, 
We'll taH a cup d kindness yet, 

For auld lang syne. 

We twa ha'e run about the braes, 

And pu'd the gowans fine ; 
But we've wandered mony a weary foot, 

Sin' auld lang syne. 

We twa ha'e paidl't i' the burn, 

Frae mornin' sun till dine : 
But seas between us braid ha'e roar'd, 

Sin' auld lang syne. 

And here's a hand, my trusty fier, 

And gie's a hand o' thine ; 
And we '11 tak' a right good-willie waught, 

For auld lang syne. 

And surely ye '11 be your pint-stowp, 

And surely I '11 be mine ; 
And we'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet, 

For auld lang syne. 



HUSBAND, HUSBAND, CEASE YOUR STRIFE. 

Tune — ' ' My jo, Janet. " 

Husband, husband, cease your strife, 

Nor longer idle rave, Sir; 
Though I am your wedded wife, 

Yet I am not your slave, Sir. 
" One of two must still obey, 

Nancy, Nancy; 
Is it man or woman, say, 

My spouse, Nancy 1 " 

If 'tis still the lordly word, 

Service and obedience ; 
I '11 desert my sov'reign lord, 

And so, good b'ye allegiance ! 
" Sad will I be, so bereft, 

Nancy, Nancy ; 
Yet I'll try to make a shift, 

My spouse, Nancy." 

My poor heart then break it must, 

My last hour I 'm near it : 
When you lay me in the dust, 

Think, think how you will bear it ! 
" I will hope and trust in Heaven, 

Nancy, Nancy ; 
Strength to bear it will be given, 

My spouse, Nancy." 

Well, Sir, from the silent dead 

Still I '11 try to daunt you ; 
Ever round your midnight bed 

Horrid sprites shall haunt you. 
" I '11 wed another, like my dear 

Nancy, Nancy ; 
Then all hell will fly for fear, 

My spouse, Nancy." 



I 




- 0. 







FLOW GENTLY, SWEET AFTON. 

Tune — " Afton Water.''' 

Flow gently, sweet Afton, among thy green braes, 
Flow gently, I'll sing thee a song in thy praise ; 



224 FLOW GENTLY, SWEET AFTON. 

My Mary's asleep by thy murmuring stream, 
Flow gently, sweet Afton, disturb not her dream. 

Thou stock-dove, whose echo resounds thro' the glen, 
Ye wild whistling blackbirds in yon thorny den, 
Thou green-crested lapwing, thy screaming forbear, 
I charge you disturb not my slumbering fair. 

How lofty, sweet Afton, thy neighbouring hills, 

Far mark'd with the courses of clear, winding rills ; 

There daily I wander, as noon rises high, 

My flocks and my Mary's sweet cot in my eye. 

How pleasant thy banks and green valleys below, 
Where wild in the woodlands the primroses blow ; 
There oft as mild ev'ning weeps over the lea, 
The sweet-scented birk shades my Mary and me. 

Thy crystal stream, Afton, how lovely it glides, 
And winds by the cot where my Mary resides ; 
How wanton thy waters her snowy feet lave, 
As gathering sweet flow'rets she stems thy clear wave. 

Flow gently, sweet Afton, among thy green braes, 
Flow gently, sweet river, the theme of my lays; 
My Mary's asleep by thy murmuring stream, 
Flow gently, sweet Afton, disturb not her dream. 



BEHOLD THE HOUR. 

Behold the hour, the boat arrive ! 

Thou goest, thou darling of my heart 
Sever'd from thee can I survive 1 

But fate has will'd, and we must part 



BEHOLD THE HOUR. 225 

I'll often greet this surging swell, 

Yon distant isle will often hail ; 
" E'en here I took the last farewell ; 

There latest mark'd her vanish'd sail." 

Along the solitary shore, 

While flitting sea-fowls round me cry, 
Across the rolling, dashing roar, 

I'll westward turn my wistful eye : 
" Happy, thou Indian grove," I '11 say, 

" Where now my Nancy's path may be ! 
While through thy sweets she loves to stray, 

O tell me, does she muse on me ? " 



M>m^ 



THOU HAST LEFT ME EVER. 

Tune — "Fee him, Father. " 

Thou hast left me ever, Jamie, thou hast left me ever ; 
Thou hast left me ever, Jamie, thou hast left me ever. 
Aften hast thou vow'd that death only should us sever ; 
Now, thou'st left thy lass for aye — I maun see thee never, 
Jamie, 

I shall see thee never. 

Thou hast me forsaken, Jamie, thou hast me forsaken ; 
Thou hast me forsaken, Jamie, thou hast me forsaken. 
Thou canst love anither jo, while my heart is breaking. 
Soon my weary een I'll close — never mair to waken, 
Jamie, 

Never mair to waken. 

G G 



226 



FAIR JENNY. 

Where are the joys I have met in the morning 
That danced to the lark's early song? 

Where is the peace that awaited my wand'ring, 
At evening the wild woods among 1 

No more a-winding the course of yon river, 
And marking sweet flow'rets so fair : 

No more I trace the light footsteps of pleasure, 
But sorrow and sad sighing care. 

Is it that summer's forsaken our valleys, 

And grim, surly winter is near 1 
No, no, the bees humming round the gay roses 

Proclaim it the pride of the year. 

Fain would I hide what I fear to discover, 
Yet long, long too well have I known : 

All that has caused this wreck in my bosom, 
Is Jenny, fair Jenny alone. 

Time cannot aid me, my griefs are immortal, 

Nor hope dare a comfort bestow : 
Come then, enamour'd and fond of my anguish, 

Enjoyment I'll seek in my woe. 




DELUDED SWAIN, THE PLEASURE. 

Tune—" The Collier s Dodder" 

Deluded swain, the pleasure 
The fickle fair can give thee, 



DELUDED SWAIN, THE PLEASURE. 227 

Is but a fairy treasure — 

Thy hopes will soon deceive thee. 

The billows on the ocean, 

The breezes idly roaming, 
The clouds' uncertain motion — 

They are but types of woman. 

O ! art thou not ashamed, 

To dote upon a feature ? 
Jf man thou wouldst be named, 

Despise the silly creature. 

Go, find an honest fellow ; 

Good claret set before thee : 
Hold on till thou art mellow, 

And then to bed in glory. 



#sHS 



NANCY. 
Tune—" The Quaker's Wife" 

Thtne am I, my faithful fair, 
Thine, my lovely Nancy ; 

Ev'ry pulse along my veins, 
Ev'ry roving fancy. 

To thy bosom lay my heart, 
There to throb and languish : 

Though despair had wrung its core, 
That would heal its anguish. 



NANCY. 

Take away these rosy lips, 
Rich with balmy treasure ! 

Turn away thine eyes of love, 
Lest I die with pleasure. 

What is life when wanting love 1 
Night without a morning : 

Love's the cloudless summer sun, 
Nature gay adorning. 



COME, LET ME TAKE THEE. 
Tune— " Cauld Kail. " 

Come, let me take thee to my breast, 

And pledge we ne'er shall sunder ; 
And I shall spurn, as vilest dust, 

The warld's wealth and grandeur : 
And do I hear my Jeanie own 

That equal transports move her 1 
I ask for dearest life alone, 

That I may live to love her. 

Thus in my arms, wi' all thy charms, 

I clasp my countless treasure ; 
I '11 seek nae mair o' heaven to share, 

Than sic a moment's pleasure : 
And by thy een, sae bonnie blue, 

I swear I 'm thine for ever ! 
And on thy lips I seal my vow, 

And break it shall I never. 




CHLOE. 



ALTERED FROM AN OLD ENGLISH SONG. 

Tune — " Dainty Davie." 

It was the charming month of May, 
When all the flow'rs were fresh and gay 
One morning, by the break of day, 
The youthful, charming Chloe : 



230 CHLOE. 



From peaceful slumber she arose, 
Girt on her mantle and her hose, 
And o'er the flow'ry mead she goes, 
The youthful, charming Chloe. 

Lovely was she by the dawn, 
Youthful Chloe, charming Chloe, 

Tripping o'er the pearly lawn, 
The youthful, charming Chloe. 

The feather'd people you might see, 
Perch'd all around on every tree, 
In notes of sweetest melody 

They hail the charming Chloe ; 
Till, painting gay the eastern skies, 
The glorious sun began to rise, 
Out-rivall'd by the radiant eyes 

Of youthful, charming Chloe. 



fcfT 



ON THE SEAS AND FAR AWAY. 

Tune—" O'er the Hills" &c. 

How can my poor heart be glad, 
When absent from my sailor lad ? 
How can I the thought forego, 
He 's on the seas to meet the foe ? 
Let me wander, let me rove, 
Still my heart is with my love ; 
Nightly dreams and thoughts by day 
Are with him that 's far away. 
On the seas and far away, 
On stormy seas and far away: 
Nightly dreams and thoughts by day 
Are aye with him that's far away. 




ON THE SEAS AND FAR AWAY. 23 1 

When in summer's noon I faint, 
As weary flocks around me pant, 
Haply in this scorching sun 
My sailor's thund'ring at his gun : 
Bullets, spare my only joy ! 
Bullets, spare my darling boy ! 
Fate, do with me what you may, 
Spare but him that 's far away ! 

At the starless midnight hour, 

When winter rules with boundless power ; 

As the storms the forest tear, 

And thunders rend the howling air, 

Listening to the doubling roar, 

Surging on the rocky shore, 

All I can — I weep and pray, 

For his weal that's far away. 

Peace, thy olive wand extend, 

And bid wild war his ravage end, 

Man with brother man to meet, 

And as a brother kindly greet : 

Then may heaven, with prosp'rous gales, 

Fill my sailor's welcome sails, 

To my arms their charge convey, 

My dear lad that's far away. 



WILT THOU BE MY DEARIE 1 

Wilt thou be my dearie? 

When sorrow wrings thy gentle heart, 

Wilt thou let me cheer thee 1 

By the treasure of my soul, 



232 WILT THOU BE MY DEARIE? 

That 's the love I bear thee ! 
I swear and vow that only thou 
Shalt ever be my dearie ; 
Only thou, I swear and vow, 
Shalt ever be my dearie. 

Lassie, say thou lo'es me ; 
Or if thou wiltna be my ain, 
Say na thou 'It refuse me : 
If it winna, canna be, 
Thou for thine may choose me, 
Let me, lassie, quickly die, 
Trusting that thou lo'es me ; 
Lassie, let me quickly die, 
Trusting that thou lo'es me. 



THE AULD MAN. 

But lately seen in gladsome green 

The woods rejoice the day, 
Through gentle showers the laughing flowers 

In double pride were gay; 
But now our joys are fled, 

On winter blasts awa' ! 
Yet maiden May, in rich array, 

Again shall bring them a'. 

But my white pow, nae kindly thowe 

Shall melt the snaws of age ; 
My trunk of eild, but buss or bield, 

Sinks in time's wintry rage. 
Oh, age has weary days, 

And nights o' sleepless pain ! 
Thou golden time o' youthfu' prime, 

Why com'st thou not again ! 



233 



O AY MY WIFE SHE DANG ME. 

O ay my wife she dang me, 
An' aft my wife she banged me; 
If ye gVe a woman a' her will, 
Guid faith ! she '11 soon dergang ye. 

On peace and rest my mind was bent, 
And, fool I was ! I married ; 

But never honest man's intent 
As cursedly miscarried. 

Some sairie comfort still at last, 
When a' thir days are done, man, 

My pains o' hell on earth are past — 
I'm sure o' bliss aboon, man. 



W& 



TO MARY. 

Tune — " Coidd aught of song. " 

Could aught of song declare my pains, 

Could artful numbers move thee, 
The muse should tell, in labour'd strains, 

O Mary, how I love thee ! 
They who but feign a wounded heart, 

May teach the lyre to languish ; 
But what avails the pride of art, 

When wastes the soul with anguish 1 

Then let the sudden bursting sigh 
The heart-felt pang discover ; 

And in the keen, yet tender eye, 
O read th' imploring lover. 

H H 



234 TO MARY. 



For well I know thy gentle mind 
Disdains art's gay disguising; 

Beyond what fancy e'er refined, 
The voice of nature prizing. 




HERE IS THE GLEN. 

Tune — "Banks of Cree." 

Here is the glen, and here the bower 
All underneath the birchen shade ; 

The village-bell has tolFd the hour — 
O what can stay my lovely maid 1 

'Tis not Maria's whispering call, 
'Tis but the balmy breathing gale, 

Mix'd with some warbler's dying fall, 
The dewy star of eve to hail. 

It is Maria's voice I hear ! 

So calls the woodlark in the grove, 
His little, faithful mate to cheer, 

At once 'tis music — and 'tis love. 

And art thou come 1 and art thou true 1 
O welcome, dear, to love and me ! 

And let us all our vows renew, 
Along the flowery banks of Cree. 




MY AIN KIND DEARIE, O. 
Tune— " The Lea Rig" 

When o'er the hill the eastern star 
Tells bughtin'-time is near, my jo ; 

And owsen frae the furrow'd field, 
Return sae dowf and wearie, O ; 



236 MY AIN KIND DEARIE, O. 

Down by the burn, where scented birks 
Wi' dew are hanging clear, my jo, 

I'll meet thee on the lea-rig, 
My ain kind dearie, O. 

In mirkest glen, at midnight hour, 

I'd rove, and ne'er be eerie, O, 
If through that glen, I gaed to thee, 

My ain kind dearie, O. 
Although the night were ne'er sae wild, 

And I were ne'er sae wearie, O, 
I'd meet thee on the lea-rig, 

My ain kind dearie, O. 

The hunter lo'es the morning sun, 

To rouse the mountain deer, my jo, 
At noon the fisher seeks the glen, 

Along the burn to steer, my jo ; 
Gi'e me the hour o' gloamin' grey, 

It maks my heart sae cheery, O, 
To meet thee on the lea-rig, 

My ain kind dearie, O. 



&S*+ 



OUT OVER THE FORTH. 

Out over the Forth I look to the north, 

But what is the north and its Highlands to me ? 

The south nor the east gi'e ease to my breast, 
The far foreign land, or the wild rolling sea. 

But I look to the west, when I gae to rest, 

That happy my dreams and my slumbers may be 

For far in the west lives he I lo'e best, 
The lad that is dear to my babie and me. 



237 



IT IS NA, JEAN, THY BONNIE FACE. 

Tune—" The Maid's Complaint" 

It is na, Jean, thy bonnie face, 

Nor shape that I admire, 
Altho' thy beauty and thy grace 

Might weel awake desire. 
Something, in ilka part o' thee, 

To praise, to love, I find ; 
But dear as is thy form to me, 

Still dearer is thy mind. 

Nae mair ungen'rous wish I ha'e, 

Nor stronger in my breast, 
Than if I canna mak' thee sae, 

At least to see thee blest. 
Content am I, if Heaven shall give 

But happiness to thee ; 
And as wi' thee I'd wish to live, 

For thee I'd bear to die. 



LOVELY DAVIES. 

Tune—" Miss Muir." 

O how shall I, unskilfu', try 

The poet's occupation, 
The tune'fu' powers, in happy hours, 

That whispers inspiration 1 
Even they maun dare an effort mair, 

Than aught they ever gave us, 
Ere they rehearse, in equal verse, 

The charms o' lovely Davies. 



238 LOVELY DAVIES. 

F^ach eye it cheers, when she appears, 

Like Phoebus in the morning, 
When past the shower, and ev'ry flower 

The garden is adorning. 
As the wretch looks o'er Siberia's shore, 

When winter-bound the wave is ; 
Sae droops our heart when we maun part 

Frae charming lovely Davies. 

Her smile's a gift, frae 'boon the lift, 

That mak's us mair than princes ; 
A scepter'd hand, a king's command, 

Is in her darting glances : 
The man in arms, 'gainst female charms, 

Even he her willing slave is ; 
He hugs his chain, and owns the reign 

Of conquering, lovely Davies. 

My muse to dream of such a theme, 

Her feeble pow'rs surrender ; 
The eagle's gaze alone surveys 

The sun's meridian splendour. 
I wad in vain essay the strain, 

The deed too daring brave is ; 
I'll drap the lyre, and mute admire 

The charms o' lovely Davies. 




SAE FAR AWA\ 

O, sad and heavy should I part, 
But for her sake sae far awa' ; 

Unknowing what my way may thwart, 
My native land sae far awa'. 




SAE FAR AWA. 239 

Thou that of a' things Maker art, 
That form'd this fair sae far awa', 

Gi' body strength, then I'll ne'er start 
At this my way sae far awa'. 

How true is love to pure desert, 

So love to her, sae far awa' : 
And nocht can heal my bosom's smart, 

While, oh ! she is sae far awa'. 
Nane other love, nane other dart, 

I feel but hers, sae far awa' ; 
But fairer never touch'd a heart 

Than hers, the fair sae far awa'. 



ft^ 



THE LOVER'S MORNING SALUTE TO HIS 
MISTRESS. 

Tune— " Deil tak' the Wars. " 

Sleep'st thou, or wak'st thou, fairest creature? 

Rosy morn now lifts his eye, 
Numbering ilka bud which Nature 

Waters wi' the tears o' joy : 

Now thro' the leafy woods, 

And by the reeking floods, 
Wild Nature's tenants freely, gladly stray ; 

The lintwhite in his bower 

Chants o'er the breathing flower ; 

The lav'rock to the sky 

Ascends wi' sangs o' joy, 
While the sun and thou arise to bless the day. 



240 THE LOVERS MORNING SALUTE. 

Phoebus, gilding the brow o' morning, 

Banishes ilk darksome shade, 
Nature gladdening and adorning ; 

Such to me my lovely maid. 

When absent frae my fair, 

The murky shades o' care 
With starless gloom o'ercast my sullen sky 

But when, in beauty's light, 

She meets my ravish'd sight, 

When through my very heart 

Her beaming glories dart ; 
Tis then I wake to life, to light, and joy, 




LET NOT WOMAN E'ER COMPLAIN. 

Let not woman e'er complain 

Of inconstancy in love ; 
Let not woman e'er complain, 

Fickle man is apt to rove : 

Look abroad through Nature's range, 
Nature's mighty law is change ; 

Ladies, would it not be strange, 

Man should then a monster prove 1 

Mark the winds, and mark the skies ; 

Ocean's ebb, and ocean's flow : 
Sun and moon but set to rise, 

Round and round the seasons go. 

Why then ask of silly man 

To oppose great Nature's plan 1 

We '11 be constant while we can — 
You can be no more, you know. 




THE HIGHLAND WIDOW'S LAMENT 



Oh ! I am come to the low countrie, 

Och-on, och-on, och-rie ! 
Without a penny in my purse, 

To buy a meal to me. 
i [ 



242 THE HIGHLAND WIDOWS LAMENT. 

It was na sae in the Highland hills, 
Och-on, och-on, och-rie ! 

Nae woman in the country wide 
Sae happy was as me. 

For then I had a score o' kye, 

Och-on, och-on, och-rie ! 
Feeding on yon hills so high, 

And giving milk to me. 

And there I had three score o' yowes, 

Och-on, och-on, och-rie ! 
Skipping on yon bonnie knowes, 

And casting woo' to me. 

I was the happiest of a' the clan, 

Sair, sair may I repine ; 
For Donald was the brawest lad, 

And Donald he was mine. 

Till Charlie Stewart cam' at last, 

Sae far to set us free ; 
My Donald's arm was wanted then, 

For Scotland and for me. 

Their waefu' fate what need I tell, 
Right to the wrang did yield : 

My Donald and his country fell 
Upon Culloden's field. 

Oh ! I am come to the low countrie 

Och-on, och-on, och-rie ! 
Nae woman in the world wide 

Sae wretched now as me. 



243 

CANST THOU LEAVE ME THUS ? 

Tune— "Roys Wife." 

Canst thou leave me thus, my Katy ? 
Canst thou leave me thus, my Katy ? 
Well thou knoisSst my aching heart 
And canst thou leave me thus, for pity ? 

Is this thy plighted, fond regard, 
Thus cruelly to part ? my Katy? 

Is this thy faithful swain's reward — 
An aching, broken heart, my Katy ? 

Farewell ! and ne'er such sorrows tear 
That fickle heart of thine, my Katy ; 

Thou may'st find those will love thee dear- 
But not a love like mine, my Katy. 



i*&&yi 



L-&-- 



O PHILLY, HAPPY BE THAT DAY. 

He — O Philly, happy be that day 

When, roving through the gather'd hay, 
My youthfu' heart was stown away, 
And by thy charms, my Philly. 

She — O Willy, aye I bless the grove 

Where first I own'd my maiden love, 
Whilst thou didst pledge the Powers above, 
To be my ain dear Willy. 

He — As songsters of the early year 

Are ilka day mair sweet to hear, 



2 44 O PHILLY, HAPPY BE THAT DAY. 

So ilka day to me mair dear 
And charming is my Philly. 

She — As on the brier the budding rose 

Still richer breathes, and fairer blows, 
So in my tender bosom grows 
The love I bear my Willy. 

He — The milder sun and bluer sky, 

That crown my harvest cares wi' joy, 
Were ne'er sae welcome to my eye 
As is a sight o' Philly. 

She — The little swallow's wanton wing, 

Though wafting o'er the flowery spring, 
Did ne'er to me sic tidings bring, 
As meeting o' my Willy. 

He— The bee that through the sunny hour 
Sips nectar in the opening flower, 
Compared wi' my delight is poor, 
Upon the lips o' Philly. 

She — The woodbine in the dewy weet, 

When evening shades in silence meet, 
Is not sae fragrant or sae sweet 
As is a kiss o' Willy. 

He — Let fortune's wheel at random rin, 

And fools may tine, and knaves may win 
My thoughts are a' bound up in ane, 
And that's my ain dear Philly. 

She — What's a' the joys that gowd can gi'e ! 
I care nae wealth a single flie ; 
The lad I love's the lad for me, 
And that's my ain dear Willy. 



45 



CA' THE EWES. 

Co? the ewes to the knowes, 
CcC them whare the heather grows, 
Cd them whare the burnie rowes, 
My bonnie dearie! 

As I gaed down the water side, 
There I met my shepherd lad, 
He row'd me sweetly in his plaid, 
And he ca'd me his dearie. 

Will ye gang down the water-side, 
And see the waves sae sweetly glide, 
Beneath the hazels spreading wide ? 
The moon it shines ftf clearly. 

I was bred up at nae sic school, 
My shepherd lad, to play the fool, 
And a' the day to sit in dool, 
And naebody to see me. 

Ye sail get gowns and ribbons meet, 
Cauf-leather shoon upon your feet, 
And in my arms ye'se lie and sleep, 
And ye sail be my dearie. 

If ye 11 but stand to what ye 've said, 
I'se gang wi' you, my shepherd lad, 
And ye may rowe me in your plaid, 
And I sail be your dearie. 

While waters wimple to the sea ; 
While day blinks in the lift sae hie ; 
Till clay-cauld death sail blin' my e'e, 
Ye sail be my dearie. 



4 6 



CONTENTED WI' LITTLE. 

Tune — " Lumps o Pudding." 

Contented wi' little, and cantie wi J mair, 
Whene'er I forgather wi' sorrow and care, 
I gi'e them a skelp, as they're creepin' alang, 
Wi' a cog o' guid swats, and an auld Scottish sang. 

I whyles claw the elbow o' troublesome Thought ; 
But man is a soger, and life is a faught : 
My mirth and guid humour are coin in my pouch, 
And my Freedom's my lairdship nae monarch dare touch. 

A towmond o' trouble, should that be my fa, 
A night o' guid fellowship sowthers it a' : 
When at the blithe end o' our journey at last, 
Wha the de'il ever thinks o' the road he has past? 

Blind Chance, let her snapper and stoyte on her way, 
Be't to me, be't frae me, e'en let the jade gae : 
Come ease, or come travail ; come pleasure or pain, 
My warst word is, "Welcome, and welcome again!" 



SAW YE MY PHELY ? 

Quasi dicat Phillis. 

O saw ye my dear, my Phely % 
O saw ye my dear, my Phely? 
She's down i' the grove, she's wi' a new love, 
She winna come hame to her Willy. 



SAW YE MY PHELY % 247 

What says she, my dearest, my Pheiy 1 ? 
What says she, my dearest, my Phely % 
She lets thee to wit that she has thee forgot, 
And for ever disowns thee, her Willy. 

had I ne'er seen thee, my Phely i 
O had I ne'er seen thee, my Phely ! 
As light as the air, and fause as thou's fair, 
Thou'st broken the heart o' thy Willy. 




O WHA IS SHE THAT LO'ES ME? 

O wha is she that lo'es me, 
And has my heart a-keeping % 

O sweet is she that lo'es me, 
As dews o' simmer weeping, 
In tears the rose-buds steeping. 

O that's the lassie d my heart, 
My lassie ever dearer ; 

O that's the queen d woman-kind, 
And nder a ane to peer her. 

If thou shalt meet a lassie, 

In grace and beauty charming, 

That e'en thy chosen lassie, 

Erewhile thy breast sae warming, 
Had ne'er sic powers alarming ; 

If thou hadst heard her talking, 
And thy attentions plighted, 

That ilka body talking 

But her by thee is slighted ; 
And thou art all delighted ; 



248 O WHA IS SHE THAT LO'ES ME? 

If thou hast met this fair one ; 
When frae her thou hast parted, 

If every other fair one 

But her thou hast deserted, 
And thou art broken-hearted. 



FAREWELL, THOU STREAM. 

Farewell, thou stream that winding flows 
Around Eliza's dwelling ! 

Mem'ry ! spare the cruel throes 
Within my bosom swelling : 

Condemn'd to drag a hopeless chain, 

And yet in secret languish, 
To feel a fire in ev'ry vein, 

Nor dare disclose my anguish. 

Love's veriest wretch, unseen, unknown, 
I fain my griefs would cover : 

The bursting sigh, th' unweeting groan, 
Betray the hapless lover. 

1 know thou doom'st me to despair, 
Nor wilt, nor canst relieve me ; 

But oh, Eliza, hear one prayer, 
For pity's sake forgive me ! 

The music of thy voice I heard, 

Nor wist while it enslaved me ; 
I saw thine eyes, yet nothing fear'd, 

Till fears no more had saved me : 
Th' unwary sailor thus aghast, 

The wheeling torrent viewing ; 
'Mid circling horrors sinks at last 

In overwhelming ruin. 




LAST MAY A BRAW WOOER. 



Tune — "The Lothian Lassie. 



Last May a braw wooer cam' down the lang glen, 
And sair wi' his love he did deave me ; 

I said there was naething I hated like men — 
The deuce gae wi'm, to believe me, believe me, 

The deuce gae wi'm to believe me ! 

K K 



250 LAST MAY A BRAW WOOER. 

He spak' o' the darts in my bonnie black een, 

And vow'd for my love he was dying ; 
I said he might die when he liked, for Jean — 

The Lord forgi'e me for lying, for lying, 

The Lord forgi'e me for lying ! 

A well-stocked mailen, himsel' for the laird, 
And marriage aff-hand, were his proffers : 

I never loot on that I kenn'd it, or cared, 

But thought I might ha'e waur offers, waur offers, 
But thought I might ha'e waur offers. 

But what wad ye think 1 in a fortnight or less, 
The de'il tak' his taste to gae near her ! 

He up the lang loan to my black cousin Bess — 

Guess ye how, the jad ! I could bear her, could bear her, 
Guess ye how, the jad ! I could bear her. 

But a' the niest week as I fretted wi' care, 

I gaed to the tryste o' Dalgamock, 
And wha but my fine fickle lover was there ! 

I glowr'd as I 'd seen a warlock, a warlock, 

I glowr'd as I 'd seen a warlock. 

But owre my left shouther I gae him a blink, 

Lest neebors might say I was saucy : 
My wooer he caper'd as he'd been in drink, 

And vow'd I was his dear lassie, dear lassie, 

And vow'd I was his dear lassie. 

I spier'd for my cousin fu' couthy and sweet, 

Gin she had recover'd her hearin', 
And how her new shoon fit her auld shackl't feet, 

But, heavens ! how he fell a swearin', a swearin', 

But, heavens ! how he fell a swearin'. 



LAST MAY A BRAW WOOER. 25 1 

He begged, for Gudesake ! I wad be his wife, 

Or else I wad kill him wi' sorrow ■ 
So e'en to preserve the poor body in life, 

I think I maun wed him to-morrow, to-morrow, 

I think I maun wed him to-morrow. 



MY NANNIE'S AWA\ 

Tune—" There'll never be peace" &>c. 

Now in her green mantle blithe Nature arrays, 
And listens the lambkins that bleat o'er the braes, 
While birds warble welcomes in ilka green shaw ; 
But to me its delightless — my Nannie's awa\ 

The snaw-drap and primrose our woodlands adorn, 
And violets bathe in the weet o' the morn ; 
They pain my sad bosom, sae sweetly they blaw, 
They mind me o' Nannie — my Nannie's awa. 

Thou lav'rock that springs frae the dews of the lawn. 
The shepherd to warn o' the grey-breaking dawn, 
And thou, mellow mavis that hails the night-fa', 
Give over for pity — my Nannie's awa'. 

Come autumn, sae pensive, in yellow and grey, 
And soothe me wi' tidings o' nature's decay : 
The dark, dreary winter, and wild-driving snaw, 
Alane can delight me — now Nannie's awa'. 



HERE'S A HEALTH. 

Tune — " The Bonnets o blue.'" 

Here's a health to them that's awa', 

Here 's a health to them that 's awa' ; 
And wha winna wish giiid luck to our cause, 

May never guid luck be their fa ! 
It's guid to be merry and wise, 

It 's guid to be honest and true, 
It's guid to support Caledonia's cause, 

And bide by the buff and the blue. 

Here 's a health to them that 's awa', 

And here 's to them that's awa' ; 
Here's a health to Charlie, the chief o' the clan, 

Although that his band be sma\ 
May liberty meet wi' success ! 

May prudence protect her fra' evil ! 
May tyrants and tyranny tine in the mist, 

And wander their way to the devil ! 

Here's a health to them that's awa', 

And here 's to them that 's awa' ; 
Here 's a health to Tammie, the Norland laddie, 

That live 's at the lug o' the law ! 
Here 's freedom to him that wad read, 

Here's freedom to him that wad write ! 
There's nane ever fear'd that the truth should be heard, 

But they wham the truth wad indite. 

Here's a health to them that's awa', 

And here 's to them that 's awa' ; 
Here's Maitland and Wycombe, and wha does na like 
'em, 

We'll build in a hole o' the wa\ 



HERES A HEALTH. 253 

Here 's timmer that 's red at the heart, 

Here 's fruit that 's sound at the core ! 
May he that would turn the buff and blue coat, 

Be turn'd to the back o' the door. 

Here 's a health to them that 's awa', 

And here 's to them that 's awa' ; 
Here's Chieftain M'Leod, a chieftain worth gowd, 

Though bred amang mountains o' snaw ! 
Here 's friends on baith sides o' the Forth, 

And friends on baith sides o' the Tweed, 
And wha would betray old Albion's rights, 

May they never eat of her bread. 



O LAY THY LOOF IN MINE, LASS. 

O lay thy loof in mine, lass, 

In mine, lass, in mine, lass ; 

And swear on thy white hand, lass, 

That thou wilt be my aim 
A slave to Love's unbounded sway, 
He aft has wrought me meikle wae ; 
But now he is my deadly fae, 

Unless thou be my ain. 

There's mony a lass has broke my rest, 
That for a blink I ha'e lo'ed best, 
But thou art queen within my breast, 

For ever to remain. 
O lay thy loof in mine, lass, 
In mine, lass, in mine, lass, 
And swear on thy white hand, lass, 

That thou wilt be my ain. 



254 



O LASSIE, ART THOU SLEEPING YET 1 

Tune — "Let me in this ae night.'"' 

O lassie, art thou sleeping yet % 
Or art thou wakin', I would wit % 
For love has bound me, hand and fit, 
And I would fain be in, jo. 

O let me in this ae night, 

This ae, ae, ae night; 
For pity's sake this ae night, 

O rise and let me in, jo. 

Thou hear'st the winter wind and weet, 
Nae star blinks through the driving sleet ; 
Tak' pity on my weary feet, 

And shield me frae the rain, jo. 

The bitter blast that round me blaws, 
Unheeded howls, unheeded fa's ; 
The cauldness o' thy heart's the cause 
Of a' my grief and pain, jo. 

O let me in this ae night, 

This ae, ae, ae night; 
For pity's sake this ae night, 

O rise and let me in, jo. 



HER ANSWER. 

O tell na' me o' wind and rain, 
Upbraid na' me wi' cauld disdain ! 
Gae back the gate ye cam' again, 
I winna let you in, jo. 



O LASSIE, ART THOU SLEEPING VET ? 255 

/ tell you now this ae night, 

This ae, ae, ae night ; 
And ance for (£ this ae night, 

I winna let you in, jo. 

The snellest blast, at mirkest hours, 
That round the pathless wancl'rer pours, 
Is nocht to what poor she endures, 
That's trusted faithless man, jo. 

The sweetest flower that deck'd the mead, 
Now trodden like the vilest weed : 
Let simple maid the lesson read, 
The weird may be her ain, jo. 

The bird that charm'd his summer-day, 
Is now the cruel fowler's prey ; 
Let witless, trusting woman say, 
How aft her fate's the same, jo. 



*-^-\ 



IS THERE, FOR HONEST POVERTY 

Tune— "For a that, and a that." 

Is there, for honest poverty, 

That hangs his head, and a' that? 
The coward-slave, we pass him by, 

We dare be poor for a' that ! 
For a' that, and a that, 

Our toils obscure, and a that ; 
The rank is but the guinea's stamp, 

The man's the gowd for a' that ! 



256 IS THERE, FOR HONEST POVERTY. 

What tho' on hamely fare we dine, 

Wear hoddin grey, and a' that ; 
Gi'e fools their silks, and knaves their wine, 

A man's a man for a' that ! 
For a' that, and a' that, 

Their tinsel show, and a' that ; 
The honest man, though e'er sae poor, 

Is king o' men, for a' that. 

Ye see yon birkie, ca'd a lord, 

Wha struts, and stares, and a' that ; 
Though hundreds worship at his word, 

He's but a coof for a' that : 
For a' that, and a' that, 

His riband, star, and a' that ; 
The man of independent mind, 

He looks and laughs at a' that ! 

A king can mak' a belted knight, 

A marquis, duke, and a' that ; 
But an honest man's aboon his might, 

Guid faith he maunna fa that ! 
For a' that, and a' that, 

Their dignities, and a' that, 
The pith o' sense, and pride o' worth, 

Are higher ranks than a' that. 

Then let us pray that come it may — 

As come it will for a' that — 
That sense and worth, o'er a' the earth, 

May bear the gree and a' that ; 
For a' that, and a' that, 

It's comin' yet for a' that, 
That man to man, the world o'er, 

Shall brothers be for a' that. 




DAINTY DAVIE. 

Now rosy May comes in wi' flowers, 
To deck her gay, green-spreading bowers 
And now comes in my happy hours, 
To wander wi' my Davie. 

Meet me on the warlock knowe, 
Dainty Davie, dainty Davie, 

There Fit spend the day wi' yon, 
My a in dear dainty Davie. 

L L 






258 DAINTY DAVIE. 

The crystal waters round us fa', 
The merry birds are lovers a', 
The scented breezes round us blaw, 
A wandering wi' my Davie. 

When purple morning starts the hare, 
To steal upon her early fare, 
Then through the dews I will repair, 
To meet my faithfu' Davie. 

When day, expiring in the west, 
The curtain draws o' nature's rest, 
I flee to his arms I lo'e best, 
And that's my ain dear Davie. 




CALEDONIA. 

Tune — " Humours of Gle/i." 

Their groves o' sweet myrtles let foreign lands reckon, 

Where bright-beaming summers exalt their perfume, 
Far dearer to me yon lone glen o' green breckan, 

Wi' the burn stealing under the lang yellow broom. 
Far dearer to me are yon humble broom bowers, 

Where the blue-bell and gowan lurk lowly unseen : 
For there, lightly tripping amang the wild flowers, 

A-listening the linnet, aft wanders my Jean. 

Though rich is the breeze in their gay sunny valleys, 
And cauld Caledonia's blast on the wave ; 



CALEDONIA. 259 

Their sweet-scented woodlands that skirt the proud palace, 
What are they ? The haunt of the tyrant and slave ! 

The slave's spicy forests, and gold bubbling fountains, 
The brave Caledonian views wi' disdain ; 

He wanders as free as the winds of his mountains, 
Save love's willing fetters, the chains o' his Jean. 



ADDRESS TO THE WOODLARK. 

Tune — " Where '11 bonnie Ann lie /" or " Loch-Eroch-Side. 

O stay, sweet warbling woodlark, stay, 
Nor quit for me the trembling spray ; 
A hapless lover courts thy lay, 
Thy soothing, fond complaining. 

Again, again that tender part, 
That I may catch thy melting art ; 
For surely that wad touch her heart, 
Wha kills me wi' disdaining. 

Say was thy little mate unkind, 
And heard thee as the careless wind % 
Oh, nocht but love and sorrow join'd, 
Sic notes o' wae could wauken. 

Thou tells o' never-ending care ; 
O' speechless grief, and dark despair ; 
For pity's sake, sweet bird, nae mair ! 
Or my poor heart is broken ! 



260 



'TWAS NA HER BONNIE BLUE EEN. 

Tune — " Laddie, lie near me." 

'T was na her bonnie blue een was my ruin ; 
Fair though she be, that was ne'er my undoing : 
'T was the dear smile when naebody did mind us, 
'Twas the bewitching, sweet, stown glance o' kindness. 

Sair do I fear that to hope is denied me, 
Sair do I fear that despair maun abide me ! 
But though fell fortune should fate us to sever, 
Queen shall she be in my bosom for ever. 

Mary, I'm thine wi' a passion sincerest, 
And thou hast plighted me love o' the dearest, 
And thou'rt the angel that never can alter, 
Sooner the sun in his motion would falter. 



THIS IS NO MY AIN LASSIE. 

Tune — " This is no my ain House.' 1 '' 

O this is no my ain lassie, 
Fair though the lassie be; 

O weel ken I my ain lassie, 
Kind love is in her e'e. 

I see a form, I see a face, 
Ye weel may wi' the fairest place : 
It wants, to me, the witchin' grace, 
The kind love thaf's in her e'e. 



THIS IS NO MY AIN LASSIE. 26 1 

She's bonnie, blooming, straight, and tall, 
And lang has had my heart in thrall ; 
And aye it charms my very saul, 
The kind love that 's in her e'e. 

A thief sae pawkie is my Jean, 
To steal a blink, by a' unseen ; 
But gleg as light are lovers' een, 
When kind love is in the e'e. 

It may escape the courtly sparks ; 
It may escape the learned clerks ; 
But weel the watching lover marks 
The kind love that's in her e'e. 



CHLORIS. 

Tune — " DeHl tak' the wars.'''' 

Mark yonder pomp of costly fashion, 

Round the wealthy, titled bride : 
But when compared with real passion, 
Poor is all that princely pride. 
What are the showy treasures 1 
What are the noisy pleasures 1 

The gay, gaudy glare of vanity and art : 
The polish'd jewel's blaze 
May draw the wond'ring gaze, 
And courtly grandeur bright 
The fancy may delight, 

But never, never can come near the heart. 



262 CHLORIS. 

But did you see my dearest Chloris, 

In simplicity's array; 
Lovely as yonder sweet opening flower is, 

Shrinking from the gaze of day. 

O then the heart alarming, 

And all resistless charming, 
In Love's delightful fetters she chains the willing soul ! 

Ambition would disown 

The world's imperial crown ; 

Even Avarice would deny 

His worshipp'd deity, 
And feel through every vein Love's raptures roll. 




O BONNIE WAS YON ROSY BRIER. 

Tune — " I wish my love was in a mire." 

O bonnie was yon rosy brier, 

That blooms sae far frae haunt o' man ; 
And bonnie she, and ah, how dear ! 

It shaded frae the e'ening sun. 

Yon rosebuds in the morning dew, 

How pure amang the leaves sae green ; 

But purer was the lover's vow, 

They witness'd in their shade yestreen. 

All in its rude and prickly bower, 

That crimson rose, how sweet and fair! 

But love is far a sweeter flower 
Amid life's thorny path o' care. 



O BONNIE WAS YON ROSY BRIER. 263 

The pathless wild, and wimpling burn, 

Wi' Chloris in my arms, be mine ; 
And I the world nor wish, nor scorn, 

Its joys and griefs alike resign. 



COMING THROUGH THE RYE. 

[This is altered from an old favourite song of the same name.] 
Tune — " Coming through the rye.'''' 

Coming through the rye, poor body, 

Coming through the rye, 
She draiglet a' her petticoatie, 

Coming through the rye. 
Jenny 's a' wat, poor body, 

Jenny 's seldom dry ; 
She draiglet a' her petticoatie, 

Coming through the rye. 

Gin a body meet a body — 

Coming through the rye; 
Gin a body kiss a body — 

Need a body cry ? 

Gin a body meet a body 

Coming through the glen, 
Gin a body kiss a body — 

Need a body ken 3 
Jenny 's a wat, poor body, 

Jenny 's seldom dry ; 
She draiglet a' her petticoatie, 

Coming through the rye. 



264 



ALTHO' THOU MAUN NEVER BE MINE. 

Tune — "Here's a health to them that's awa, hinny." 

Here's a health to ane I Ide dear, 

Here's a health to ane I Ide dear, 

Thou art as sweet as the smile when fond lovers meet, 

And soft as their parting tear — Jessy ! 

Altho' thou maun never be mine, 

Altho' even hope is denied ; 
'T is sweeter for thee despairing, 

Than aught in the world beside — Jessy ! 

I mourn thro' the gay, gaudy day, 
As, hopeless, I muse on thy charms : 

But welcome the dream o' sweet slumber, 
For then I am lock'd in thy arms — Jessy ! 

I guess by the dear angel smile, 

I guess by the love-rolling e'e ; 
But, why urge the tender confession, 

'Gainst fortune's fell cruel decree % — Jessy ! 




HEY FOR A LASS WI' A TOCHER. 

Tu ne — ' ' Balinamona Or a. " 

Awa' wi' your witchcraft o' beauty's alarms, 
The slender bit beauty you grasp in your arms 
O gi'e me the lass that has acres o' charms, 
O gi'e me the lass wi' the weel stockit farms. 



HEY FOR A LASS Wl' A TOCHER. 265 

Then hey for a lass w? a tocher, 
Then hey for a lass w? a tocher; 
Then hey for a lass w? a tocher, 
The nice yellow guineas for me. 

Your beauty's a flower in the morning that blows, 
And withers the faster, the faster it grows ; 
But the rapturous charm o' the bonny green knowes, 
Ilk spring they're new-deckit wi' bonny white yowes. 

And e'en when this beauty your bosom has blest, 
The brightest o' beauty may cloy when possest ; 
But the sweet yellow darlings wi ? Geordie imprest, 
The langer ye ha'e them — the mair they're carest 




THERE WAS A BONNIE LASS. 

AN UNFINISHED SKETCH. 

There was a bonnie lass, 

And a bonnie, bonnie lass, 
And she lo'ed her bonnie laddie dear; 

Till war's loud alarms 

Tore her laddie frae her arms, 
Wi' mony a sigh- and tear. 

Over sea, over shore, 

Where the cannons loudly roar, 
He still was a stranger to fear : 

And nocht could him quell, 

Or his bosom assail, 
But the bonnie lass he lo'ed so dear. 

M M 



266 

TO CHARLOTTE HAMILTON, 

(The Poet's last Song. ) 

Fairest maid on Devon banks, 
Crystal Devo?i, winding Devon, 

Wilt thou lay that frown aside, 
And smile as thou wert wont to do ? 

Full well thou know'st I love thee dear, 
Couldst thou to malice lend an ear ! 
O, did not love exclaim, " Forbear, 
Nor use a faithful lover so 1 " 

Then come, thou fairest of the fair, 
Those wonted smiles, O, let me share ; 
And by thy beauteous self I swear, 

No love but thine my heart shall know. 

Fairest maid on Devon banks, 
Crystal Devon, winding Devon, 

Wilt thou lay that frown aside, 
And smile as thou wert wont to do ? 




NOTES TO HALLOWE'EN 



■?s\ 



1 Is thought to be a night when witches, devils, and other mischief-making beings, 
are all abroad on their baneful midnight errands ; particularly those aerial people, the 
fairies, are said on that night to hold a grand anniversary. 

2 Certain little, romantic, rocky, green hills, in the neighbourhood of the ancient 
seat of the Earls of Cassilis. 

3 A noted cavern near Colzean, or Colean-house, called The Cove of Colean ; 
which, as well as Cassilis Downans, is famed in country story for being a favourite 
haunt of fairies. 

4 The famous family of that name, the ancestors of Robert the great deliverer of 
his country, were Earls of Carrick. 

5 The first ceremony of Hallowe'en, is, pulling each a stock, or plant of kail. 
They must go out, hand in hand, with eyes shut, and pull the first they meet with : 
its being big or little, straight or crooked, is prophetic of the size and shape of the 
grand object of all their spells — the husband or wife. If any yird, or earth, stick to 
the root, that is tocher or fortune : and the taste of the custoc, that is, the heart of the 
stem, is indicative of the natural temper and disposition. Lastly, the stems, or, to 
give them their ordinary appellation, the runts, are placed somewhere above the head 
of the door ; and the Christian names of the people whom chance brings into the 
house are, according to the priority of placing the runts, the names in question. 

6 They go to the barn-yard, and pull each, at three several times, a stalk of oats. 
If the third stalk wants the top-pickle, that is, the grain at the top of the stalk, the 
party in question will come to the marriage-bed anything but a maid. 

7 When the corn is in a doubtful state, by being too green or wet, the stack- 
builder, by means of old timber, &c. makes a large apartment in his stack with an 
opening in the side which is most exposed to the wind ; this he calls a fause-kouse. 

8 Burning the nuts is a favourite charm. They name the lad and lass to each 
particular nut, as they lay them in the fire ; and accordingly as they burn quietly 
together, or start from beside one another, the course and issue of the courtship will 
be. 



268 Notes to Hallowe'en, 

9 Whoever would, with success, try this spell, must strictly observe these directions : 
Steal out, all alone, to the kiln, and, darkling, throw into the pot a clew of blue 
yarn ; wind it in a new clew off the old one ; and, towards the latter end, something 
will hold the thread ; demand, Wha hands ? i. e. who holds ? an answer will be 
returned from the kiln-pot, by naming the Christian and surname of your future 
spouse. 

10 Take a candle, and go alone to a looking-glass ; eat an apple before it ; and 
some traditions say, you should comb your hair all the time ; the face of your 
conjugal companion, to be, will be seen in the glass, as if peeping over your shoulder. 

11 Steal out, unperceived, and sow a handful of hempseed, harrowing it with any- 
thing you can conveniently draw after you. Repeat, now and then, " Hemp-seed, I 
saw thee, hemp-seed, I saw thee ; and him (or her) that is to be my true-love, come 
after me and pu' thee." Look over your left shoulder, and you will see the 
appearance of the person invoked, in the attitude of pulling hemp. Some traditions 
say, " Come after me and shaw thee," that is, show thyself; in which case it simply 
appears. Others omit the harrowing, and say, " Come after me, and harrow thee." 

12 This charm must likewise be performed unperceived and alone. You go to the 
barn, and open both doors, taking them off the hinges if possible ; for there is danger 
that the being about to appear may shut the doors, and do you some mischief. Then 
take that instrument, used in winnowing the corn, which in our country dialect we 
call a wecht, and go through all the attitudes of letting down corn against the wind. 
Repeat it three times ; and the third time an apparition will pass through the barn, in 
at the windy door and out at the other, having both the figure in question, and the 
appearance or retinue marking the employment or station in life. 

13 Take an opportunity of going, unnoticed, to a bean-stack, and fathom it three 
times round. The last fathom of the last time you will catch in your arms the 
appearance of your future conjugal yoke-fellow. 

14 You go out, one or more, for this is a social spell, to a south-running spring, or 
rivulet, where "three lairds' lands meet," and dip your left shirt sleeve. Go to bed 
in sight of a fire, and hang your wet sleeve before it to dry. Lie awake ; and 
sometime near midnight, an apparition, having the exact figure of the grand object in 
question, will come and turn the sleeve, as if to dry the other side of it. 

15 Take three dishes ; put clean water in one, foul water in another, and leave the 
third empty. Blindfold a person, and lead him to the hearth where the dishes are 
ranged ; he (or she) dips the left hand : if by chance in the clean water, the future 
husband or wife will come to the bar of matrimony a maid ; if in the foul, a widow ; 
if in the empty dish, it foretells, with equal certainty, no marriage at all. It is 
repeated three times ; and every time the arrangement of the dishes is altered. 

16 Sowens, with butter instead of milk to them, is always the Hallowe'en supper. 



GLOSSARY, 



/ j 



The ch andpA have always the guttural sound. The sound of the English diphthong oo is 
commonly spelt ou. The French u, a sound which often occurs in the Scottish language, 
is marked oo or ui. The a in genuine Scottish words, except when forming a diphthong, or 
followed by an e mute after a single consonant, sounds generally like the broad English a 
in wall. The Scottish diphthong ae, always, and ea, very often, sound like the French e 
masculine. The Scottish diphthong ey sounds like the Latin ei." — Burns. 



Abeigh, at a shy distance 

AboOn, above 

Abread, abroad 

Ae, one 

Aff, off 

Agley, awry 

Aiblins, perhaps 

Ain, own 

Airles, earnest-money 

Airn, iron 

Airt, quarter of the heavens 

Aith, an oath 

Aizle, a hot cinder 

Ajee, ajar; on one side 

Alake, alas ! 

Ance, once 

Ane, one, an 

Anither, another 

Ase, ashes 

Asteer, abroad 

Aught, possession; as, in a' 
my aught, in all my stock 

Auld, old 

Ava, at all 

Ayont, beyond 

Baggie, the belly 

Bairn-time, a family of chil- 
dren 

Ban, to swear, to curse 

Baudrons, a cat 

Bauk, to balk 

Bauld, bold 

Bawk, a ridge, a bank 

Baws'nt, having a white stripe 
down the face 

Bear, barley 

Beet, to add fuel to fire 

Belyve, by and by 

Ben, in ; into the room ; ben- 
most, inmost 

Bicker, a short race 

Biel, or bield, shelter 

Bien, wealthy, plentiful, com- 
fortable 

Big, bigg, to build 

Billie, a brother; a companion 

Birk, birch-tree 

Birkie, lively young fellow 

Bizz, a bustle ; to buzz 

Blae, blue 

Blastie, a shrivelled dwarf, a 
term of contempt 



Blastit, degenerate 

Blate, bashful, sheepish 

Bleerit, bleared 

Bleezing, blazing 

Blellum, idle talking fellow 

Blether, talk idly, nonsense 

Bleth'rin, talking idly 

Blink, a gleam; a smiling look 

Bluntie, one abashed 

Blype, a strip 

Bocked, gushed 

Bodle, a small copper coin 

Bogles, spirits, hobgoblins 

Boost, behoved, must needs 

Bore, hole in a wall, crevice 

Bousing, drinking 

Bow-kail, cabbage 

Bowt, bended 

Brae, a hillock 

Braindg't, reeled forward 

Braik, a kind of harrow 

Branks, a wooden curb for 
horses 

Brattle, a short race, hurry 

Braw, fine, handsome 

Brawly, or brawlie, very well, 
finely, heartily 

Breastit, did spring forth 

Brechan, fern 

Bree, liquor; barley-bree, ale, 
whiskey 

Breeks, breeches 

Brent, smooth 

Brent new, quite new 

Brig, abridge 

Brisket, the breast 

Brither, a brother 

Brock, a badger 

Broose, a race at weddings 

Brunt, did burn 

Bughtin'-time, time of collec- 
ting ewes to be milked 

Buirdly, stout-made 

Bum-clock, a humming beetle 

Bunker, a window-seat 

Burdies, diminutive of birds 

Burn, a brook, a rivulet 

Burnie, diminutive of burn 

Buss, a bush 

But, without 

But an' ben, kitchen and par- 
lour ; two rooms 



Butching, killing 

Byke, a bee-hive, a swarm 

Byre, a cow-house 

Ca't, or ca'd, called, driven 

Cairn, a heap of stones 

Calf-ward, small enclosure for 
calves 

Caller, fresh, sound 

Canny, or cannie, gentle, care- 
ful 

Cantie, or canty, cheerful 

Cantrip, a charm, a spell 

Carkin', fretting 

Carline, a stout old woman 

Cauk and keel, chalk and red 
or black-lead pencil 

Chapmen billies, pedlars 

Chiel, chield, a young fellow 

Chimla, or chimlie, chimney, 
a fire-place 

Chittering, chattering, shiver- 
ing 

Claut, a handful, a quantity 

Cleed, to clothe 

Cleekit, hooked on; having 
caught 

Clink, money 

Clinkin', jerking, squatting 

Cloot, hoof 

Coble, a fishing-boat 

Coft, bought 

Cog, a wooden dish ; sieve 

Coost, did cast 

Couthie, kind, loving; kindly, 
lovingly 

Cowpit, tumbled 

Cowte, a colt 

Crack, conversation, to con- 
verse 

Craig, crag ; throat 

Craik, landrail 

Cranreuch, hoar frost 

Crazed, worn out 

Creeshie, greasy 

Croon, a continued moan 

Crouchie, crook-backed 

Crouse, cheerful, courageous 

Cuif, coof, a blockhead 

Cummock, a short staff 

Curmurring, a slight rumbling 
noise 

Curpin, the crupper 



270 



GLOSSARY. 



Custoc, the stalk of the cole- 
wort 

Cutty, short ; a spoon ; cutty 
stool, stool of repentance 

Daffin, merriment, foolery 

Daimen, rare, now and then ; 
daimen-icker, an ear of corn 
now and then 

Dang, knocked, vanquished 

Darklins, without light 

Darg, a day's labour 

Daunt, to frighten 

Danr, to dare 

Dead (be my), be my death 

Deave, to deafen 

Deleerit, delirious 

Dirl, a stroke ; tremulous con- 
cussion 

Dizzen, or diz'n, a dozen 

Donsie, unlucky ; affectedly 
neat ; of vicious temper 

Dool, sorrow, mourning 

Doure, stout, durable ; sullen, 
stubborn 

Dow, am or are able, can 

Dowff, wanting force 

Dowie, pensive, melancholy; 
worn with grief,fatigue,&c; 
half asleep 

Doytit, stupid; doytin, loiter- 
ing, stumbling 

Drap, a drop; draps, lead 
drops, small shot ; to drop 

Driegh, slow, plodding; of 
steep ascent 

Drift, a drove ; heap of snow 

Droop-rumpl't, thin flankt 

Droukit, wet 

Drouth, thirst, drought 

Drumly, muddy ; turbid 

Drunt, pet, sour humour 

Dub, a puddle 

Duds, rags, clothes 

Duddie, ragged 

Dunted, beaten; throbbed, as 
the pulse 

E'e, eye; een (eyen), eyes 

Eerie, frighted, dreading spi- 
rits ; melancholy 

Eild, old age 

Eldritch, elvish 

Ettle, to try, attempt 

Eydent, diligent 

Fa.', fall, lot, to fall; befal; 
fa'n, fallen 

Fa's, does fall ; water-falls 

Faddom't, fathomed 

Fae, a foe 

Fain, glad ; rapture 

Fairin', recompense 

Fair-strae, chance-medley 

Fallow, fellow 

Fash, trouble, care, to trouble, 
care for 

Faulding, folding 

Faut, fault 

Fawsont, decent, seemly 

Fecht, to fight 

Fech't, strained 

Fecket, waistcoat 

Feckly, mostly 

Fend, to keep off; to make 
shift; to live comfortably 

Ferlie, or ferly, to wonder ; a 
wonder ; a term of contempt 

Fidge, to fidget; fidgin' fain, 
very desirous of 

Fiel, soft, smooth 

Fient, fiend, deuce 



Fit, afoot 

Fittie-lan, the nearer horse of 
the hindmost pair in the 
plough 

Flannen, flannel 

Fleech, to supplicate in a flat- 
tering manner 

Fley, to scare, to frighten 

Fliskit, fretted 

Fodgel, an unwieldy person 

Fog, dry moss ; foggage, stray 
vegetable materials used by 
birds, &c. in constructing 
nests 

Forbears, forefathers 

Forbye, besides 

Forgather, to meet with 

Fother, fodder 

Fou, drunk 

Foughten, troubled, harassed 

Fouth, plenty, enough, or 
more than enough 

Frae, from 

Fufft, did blow 

Fur-ahin, plough horse 

Fyke, trifling cares ; to be in 
a fuss about trifles 

Gab, the mouth ; to speak 
boldly, or pertly 

Gae, to go ; gaed, went : gane, 
gone; gaun, going 

Gaet, or gate, way, manner, 
road 

Gang, to go, to walk 

Gar, to make, to force to 

Garten, a garter 

Gash, wise, sagacious, talk- 
ative 

Gashin', conversing 

Gaudsman, ploughboy 

Gawcey, gaucy, jolly, plump 

Gear, riches of any kind 

Geek, to toss the head in scorn 

Geordie, a guinea 

Ghaist, a ghost 

Gi'e,to give; gied, gave; gi'en 
given 

Gif, if 

Gilpey, a half-grown, half-in- 
formed, boy or girl, a romp- 
ing lad, a hoyden 

Gimmer, a ewe from one to 
two years old 

Gin, if, before; against 

Glaizie, glittering, smooth, 
like glass 

Glamour, witchery ; also an 
enchanted atmosphere in 
which objects are seen in a 
false light 

Gleg, sharp, ready 

Gleib, glieb, glebe ; portion of 
land 

Glint, to peep ; pass qxiickly 

Gloamin, the twilight 

Glowr, to stare, to look 

Gowan, the wild daisy 

Gowdspink, goldfinch 

Grane, or grain, a groan, 
to groan ; grain'd, grinned, 
groaned 

Graip, a pronged instrument 
for cleaning stables 

Graith, furniture, dress 

Grape, or graip, to grope ; 
grapit, or graipit, groped 

Grat, wept, shed tears 

Gree, to agree; to bear the 
gree, to be the victor 



Gree't, agreed 

Greet, to shed tears 

Grewsome, loathsome, grim 

Grippet, catched, seized 

Grumphie, a sow 

Gruntle, the phiz, snout 
grunting noise 

Grushie, thick, of thriving 
growth 

Gude, the Supreme Being 

Guid, gude, good 

Gully, orgullie, a large pocket- 
knife 

H aet, fient haet, a petty oath 
of negation ; nothing 

Haffet, the temple, the side of 
the head 

Hafflins, nearly half, partly, 
almost ; not fully grown 

Hain, to spare, to save 

Hairst, harvest 

Haith, a petty oath 

Ha', hal', or hald, an abiding 
place; ha'-bible, family bible 

Hale, or haill, entire, whole ; 
tight, healthy 

Haly, holy 

Han', or haun', hand ; han'- 
breed, hand's breadth 

Hap, an outer garment, man- 
tle, plaid, &c. ; to wrap, to 
cover, to hap 

Harn, very coarse linen 

Haud, to hold 

Haurl, or harl, to drag, to 
strip, to peel 

Haurlin, dragging; peeling 

Haverel, a half-witted person; 
half-witted 

Havins, acquirements ; deco- 
rous manners, good sense 

Hawkie, familiar name for a 
cow; properly one with a 
white face 

Hech! oh! strange! 

Hecht, foretold, offered 

Heft, haft, handle 

Herd, to tend flocks, one who 
tends flocks of sheep, or 
droves of cattle 

Hilch, a hobble, to halt 

Hirple, to walk crazily or 
lonely, to creep 

Histie, dry, barren 

Hizzie, or hizzy, hussy, a 
young girl 

Hoast, a cough 

Hoddin, jolting motion; hum- 
ble ; hoddin-gray, coarse 
woollen stuff 

Hool, outer skin or case, husk 
or shell ; heart's-hool, peri- 
cardium 

Hotch, to shake the sides with 
joy or laughter 

Howe, hollow, adj., a hollow 

Howe-back, sunken back 

Howk, to dig ; howkit, dug 

Hoy, to urge; hoy't, urged 

Hoyte, to amble crazily 

Hums and hankers, fumbles 

Hurdies, the loins, the crupper 

Ilk, or ilka, each, every 

Ingle, fire, fire-place ; ingle 
cheek, chimney-corner 

Ither, other 

Jauk, to dally, to trifle 

Jimp, to jump; slender, hand- 
some 



GLOSSARY. 



271 



Jink, to dodge, to turn a cor- 
ner, a sudden turning 

Jinker, that turns quickly ; a 
sprightly girl ; a wag 

Jocteleg, a clasp-knife 

Johnny Ged's-hole, the grave- 
digger 

Jo, joe (joy), a lover 

Jouk, to stoop, to bow the 
head; to conceal 

Kail, kale, colewort ; broth 

Rain, kane, fowls, &c. paid 
as rent by a farmer 

Kebbuck, a cheese 

Keek, a peep ; to peep ; to spy 

Ken, to know; ken't, known 

King's-hood, a certain part of 
the entrails of the ox 

Kirk, church, chapel 

Kirn, the harvest-supper; a 
churn 

Kittle, ticklish ; coquettish 

Knaggy, knotty, showing the 
bones 

Knowe, a round hillock 

Knurl, dwarf 

Kye, cows 

Kyle, a district in Ayrshire 

Kythe, to discover, to show 
one's self 

Laigh, low 

Laith, loath 

Laithfu', bashful, reserved 

Lan'-afore, foremost plough- 
horse ; lan'-ahin', the hind- 
most one 

Lane, lone ; my lane, thy lane, 
myself, &c. alone 

Lap, did leap 

Lave, the rest, remainder 

Laverock, the lark ; laverock- 
height, high as the clouds 

Lawin', reckoning 

Lay, or ley, lea; pasture 
ground, unploughed 

Leal, loyal, true 

Lee-lang, live-long 

Leeze-me, I am proud of thee 

Leister, 3-pronged fish-dart 

Leuk, a look ; to look 

Lick, a blow ; licket, licked ; 
beaten 

Lift, sky, firmament 

Limmer, a kept mistress 

Link, to trip along ; fall to 

Linn, a waterfall, precipice 

Lint, flax ; lint i' the bell, flax 
in flower 

Lintwhite, linnet; flaxen 

Loan, or loaning, the place of 
milking ; country lane 

Loof, the palm of the hand 

Loot, did let; let fly 

Loon, a fellow, a ragamuffin 

Loup, jump, leap 

Lug, the ear, a handle 

Luggie, small hooped wooden 
dish with a handle 

Lum, the chimney 

Lunt, a column of smoke; to 
smoke 

Lyart, silvery, light-coloured ; 
grey; sere 

Mae, mair, more 

Maist, most; 'maist, almost 

Mailen, farm; estate 

Maukin, a hare 

Maun, must ; maunna,may not 

Maut, malt; groanin' maut, 



liquor provided for a lying- 
in or christening 

Meere, a mare 

Meikle, or mickle, mueh 

Melder, corn or grain sent to 
be ground 

Mell, associate with; also a 
mallet 

Menseless, ill-bred, rude 

Merle, a blackbird 

Messin, a small dog 

Midden-hole, gutter at the 
bottom of a dung-hill 

Mind, to recollect 

Minnie, mother, dam 

Mirk, murky, dark 

Mislear'd, mischievous, un- 
mannerly ; led astray 

Moil, labour 

Moop, to nibble as a sheep 

Mou', the mouth 

Moudiewort, a mole 

Muckle, great, big, much 

Naig, a nag 

Nappy, ale 

Neuk, nook, corner 

Nick, to cut 

Nicket, cut off 

Nieve, the fist 

Nit, a nut 

Nocht, nothing 

Nowte, black cattle 

Ourie, shivering, drooping 

Outlers, outliers, cattle not 
housed 

Out-ower, over, across 

Ower, owre, over, upon, too 

Owsen, oxen 

Pack, familiar; twelve stone 
of wool 

Painch, paunch 

Paitrick, a partridge 

Parritch, oatmeal pudding 

Pat, did put ; a pot 

Pattle, or pettle, a plough- 
scraper 

Pawky, pauky, or pawkie, 
cunning, sly 

Pechan, the stomach 

Penny-fee, wages 

Pet, a domesticated sheep 

Pettle, to cherish; the plough- 
staff 

Philibeg, the kilt 

Pickle, a small quantity 

Plew or pleugh, a plough 

Pock, a bag, a small sack 

Poind, to seize on cattle ; take 
goods in execution 

Poortith, poverty 

Posie, a nosegay, a garland 

Pouk, to pluck at 

Pow, the head, the skull 

Powther, pouther, powder ; 
pouthery, powdery 

Prent, print ; printing 

Prie, to taste ; prie't, tasted 

Prief, proof 

Primsie, demure, precise 

Pund, pound 

Quey, a cow from one to two 
years old 

R air, to roar ; to lament 

Ram-feezl'd, overpowered, fa- 
tigued 

Rantin', ranting; romping, fro- 
licking 

Rape, a rope 

Ratton, a rat 



Raught, reached 

Rax, to stretch 

Ream, cream ; to cream, to 

foam 
Reave, take by force 
Red, to warn 
Rede, counsel, to counsel 
Red-wud, stark mad 
Reek, smoke; reekit, smoky 
Reestit, stood restive 
Rig, a ridge ; hain'd-rig, re- 
served grassy corner 
Riggin, roof, rafters 
Rigwoodie, long, gaunt 
Rin, to run, to melt 
Rip, ripp, a handful of un- 

threshed corn 
Riskit, a wrenching noise 
Rive, to tear, pluck 
Roose, to praise 
Routhie, plentiful 
Rowe, row ; to roll, to wrap 
Rowt, to low, to bellow 
Runt, the stem of colewort 

or cabbage 
Sabbin, sobbing; also com- 
mingling 
Sair, ser'e, to serve ; a sore ; 

unlucky ; sair-won, hard- 
earned 
Sark, a shirt or shift; half- 

sarkit, poorly clad 
Saugh, the willow 
Saul, soul 
Saumont, salmon 
Saut, salt ; sautit, salted ; saut- 

basket, salt-box 
Sax, six 
Scaith or skaith, to damage ; 

to injure 
Scar, to scare ; a scar or scaur, 

foot of a precipice 
Scaur, apt to be scared 
Screed aff, to do anything 

quickly 
Settlin, settling; to get a 

settlin, to be frighted into 

quietness 
Shackl't, mis-shapen 
Shank, to walk 
Shavie, a trick 
Shaw, to show ; a small wood 

in a hollow place 
Sherra-Muir, battle of Sherriff- 

muir, fought a.d. 1715 

{Mars' -year. ) 
Sheugh, a ditch, a trench, a 

sluice 
Sheuk, shook 
Shoon, shoes 
Shore, to grant, deal out, to 

offer ; to threaten 
Shouther, shoulder 
Sic, such 

Sicker, sure, steady, firm 
Siller, silver, money 
Simmer, summer 
Sin, a son 

Skaith, harm, damage 
Skellum, a reckless fellow 
Skelp, to strike ; to walk 

briskly 
Skelpie-limner, a young jade ; 

term of reproach 
Skiegh, skeigh, proud, nice, 

high-mettled, skittish 
Skirl, shriek, cry shrilly 
Skreigh, a scream, also to 

scream ; to neigh 



/i/^e 



272 



GLOSSARY. 



Slae, sloe 

Slade, did slide 

Slap, gate, breach in a fence 

Slee, sly ; slee'st, slyest 

Sleekit, sleek, sly 

Slypet o'er, slipped, fell 

Smiddy, a smithy 

Smoor, to smother 

Smytrie,anumerous collection 

of small individuals 
Snash, reprimand; abuse 
Sneeshin-mill, a snuff-box 
Snell, bitter, biting 
Snool, to oppress 
Snoove, to go smoothly and 

constantly ; to sneak 
Snowk, to scent or snuff as a 

dog 
Sonsie, having sweet engaging 

looks, comely, plump 
Souter, a cobbler 
Sowens, or so'ns, a dish made 

of the seeds of oatmeal 

soured 
Spae, to prophesy, to divine 
Spavie, the spavin 
Spean, to wean ; to disgust 
Spier, to ask, to inquire 
Spleucban, a tobacco-pouch 
Sprattle, to scramble 
Sprit, a rush-like plant 
Spurtle,astickused in making 

hasty-pudding 
Stacher, to stagger 
Stank, a pool of standing 

water ; a wet ditch 
Stap, stop 
Stark, stout, potent 
Staun, stand 
Staw, did steal ; a surfeit 
Stech, to cram the belly 
Steek, to shut ; a stitch 
Steer, to molest ; to stir 
Steeve, firm, compact 
Sten, to rear as ahorse; jump 
Stents, tribute, dues of any 

kind 
Stey, steep 
Stibble, stubble; stibblerig, 

the reaper whotakes the lead 
Stimpart, the eighth part of a 

Winchester bushel 
Stock, a plant or sprout of 

colewort, cabbage, &c. 
Stound, a numbing blow 
Stoup, or stowp, a kind of 

jug with a handle 
Stowlins, by stealth 
Straught, straight 
Stroan, to spout 
Strunt, spirituous liquor; 

walk sturdily ; be piqued 
Sturt, to trouble; unquiet- 

ness ; sturtin, frighted 
Swank, stately, well built 
Swat, did sweat 
Swatch, a sample 
Swats, drink, ale 
Swinge, to beat, to whip 
Swirl, a curve, an eddying 

blast or pool ; knot in wood 



Swirlie, gnarled, knotty 
Swither, hesitate in choice 
Syne, since, ago, then, after- 
it wards ; auld lang syne, the 

dear olden time 
Tackets, kind of shoe-nails 
Tae, a toe ; three-tae'd, having 

three prongs 
Tairge, to examine 
Tak the gate, go away 
Tapsalteerie, topsy-turvy 
Tassie (Fr. tasse), drinking- 

cup, beaker 
Tauted, tawted, ,01 tautie hair, 

&c. matted together 
Tawie, that allows itself 

peaceably to be handled 
Tedding, spreading after the 

mower 
Teen, anger 
Tent, heed, caution; take 

heed 
Tentie, heedful, cautious 
Thack, thatch ; thack-an'-rape 
(figuratively), clothing and 
necessaries 
Thae, thir, these 
Theekit, thatched 
Thole, to suffer, to endure 
Thowe, a thaw ; to thaw 
Thrang, a crowd ; much occu- 
pied 
Thrave, twenty-four sheaves 

of corn 
Thraw, to turn, to sprain, to 
twist; to counterwork ob- 
stinately or maliciously 
Threteen, thirteen 
Throuther, thro'ither, pell- 
mell, confusedly 
Timmer, timber; also trees 
Tine, tyne, to lose ; tint, lost 
Tint, lost 

Tippence, two-pence ; tip- 
penny, country ale 
Tither, the other 
Tocher, marriage portion 
Tod, a fox 

Toom, empty ; to empty 
Tow, a rope ; wallop in a tow, 

dangle in a halter 
Towmond, a twelvemonth 
Towzie, rough, shaggy 
Toyte, to totter, like old age 
Trams, shafts of a vehicle 
Trashtrie, trash, rubbish 
Trig, spruce, neat 
Tryste, country wake, fair 
Tug, raw hide, of which, in 
old. times, plough-traces 
were frequently made 
Tug or tow, leather or rope 
Twa, two; twa-three, a few 
Twal, twelve ; twal-penni- 
worth, one English penny- 
worth 
Tyke, a dog 

Unco, strange, uncouth ; very, 
very great, prodigious ; unco 
folks, strangers ; uncos, un- 
common events ; news 



Vapour, vap'rin, vapouring, 

bullying, bragging 
Vauntie, vain, proud 
"Vera, very 
Wabster, a weaver 
Wad, would ; to bet, a bet, a 

pledge ; to wed 
Wae, wae, sorrowful; wae- 

worth ! woe to 
Waft, woof 
Wale, or wail, choice ; to 

choose 
Walie, ample, large,plump;also 

an exclamation of distress 
Wame, the belly 
Wanrestfu', restless 
Wark, work 
Warl', or warld, world 
Warlock, a wizard, a spirit 
WaiTy, worldly 
Warst, worst 
Warstled,or warsled, wrestled ; 

rolled over 
Wastrie, prodigality 
Wat, wet; I wat, I wot, I 

know ; red-wat-shod, over 

the shoes in blood 
Wattle, a twig, a wand 
Wauble, to swing, to reel ; to 

waddle 
Wauken, waking, awake 
Waur, worse, to worst 
Wean, or weanie, a child 
Wecht, a hoop covered with 

leather 
Wee, little ; wee things, little 

ones ; wee bit, a small matter 
Weel, well 
Westlin', whistling 
Whaizle, to wheeze 
Whalpit, whelped 
Whid, a lie 
Whiles, sometimes 
Whittle, a knife 
Whyles, whiles, sometimes 
Wiel, a small whirlpool 
Wight, courageous 
Wimple, to meander 
Win, to get, to earn 
Win't, winded, as a bottom of 

yarn ; winnin, winding 
Winnock, a window 
Winsome, comely, vaunted 
Wintle, a staggering motion ; 

to stagger, to reel 
Winze, an oath 
Wons, dwells 
Wooer-bab, lover's rosette ; the 

garter knotted outwardly 

below the knee 
Wordy, worthy 
Worset, worsted 
Wrack, to tease, to vex 
Wud, enraged 
Yestreen, yesternight, the 

night before 
Yett, a gate, such as leads to 

a farm -yard or field 
Yill, ale 
Yird, earth 
Yowe, yowie, a ewe 



LONDON: — PRINTED BY KlfHARD C7.AY, BKE\T1 STREET HIT.!.. 



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